| Some forms may include:biting | | | | themselves, adolescents and teens may instead |
| branding, such as with gang members | | | | feel intense anger, fear, hate and hurt. The |
| burning | | | | effects of peer pressure can also influence |
| carving | | | | adolescents and teens to injure themselves. Even |
| cutting on various parts of the body | | | | though fads come and go, a lot of the wounds on |
| excessive body piercing | | | | the child's' skin will be permanent. A lot of times |
| head banging | | | | adolescents and teens hide their burns, bruises, |
| marking | | | | cuts and scars, due to feeling criticized, |
| picking and pulling hair and skin | | | | embarrassed, or rejected.What can parents do to |
| scratching with fingernails or objects | | | | help their child? Parents are encouraged to talk |
| self bruising | | | | with their children about respecting and valuing |
| self hitting | | | | their bodies. Parents also need to serve as role |
| self piercing | | | | models for their adolescents and teens by not |
| tattooing Some adolescents and teens may | | | | engaging in acts of self-harm themselves.Some |
| self-mutilate to rebel, reject their parents' values, | | | | helpful ways for parents to address their child's |
| take risks, state their individuality or merely to be | | | | self-injury acts include teaching them to:Accept |
| accepted by their peers. Others, however, may | | | | reality and find ways to make the present |
| injure themselves out of anger or desperation to | | | | moment more tolerable while talking about their |
| seek attention, to show their hopelessness, loss | | | | feelings. |
| of self-esteem and worthlessness, or because | | | | Develop better communication and social skills. |
| they have suicidal thoughts. These children may | | | | Help them distract themselves from feelings of |
| suffer from serious psychiatric problems such as | | | | self-harm (for example, counting to ten, drawing, |
| Bipolar Disorder, depression, mood disorders, | | | | waiting 15 minutes, saying "NO!" or "STOP!" out |
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Reactive | | | | loud and to themselves as may times as needed, |
| Attachment Disorder (RAD), and psychosis. | | | | practicing breathing exercises and/or meditation, |
| Additionally, some adolescents and teens who | | | | journaling, thinking about positive images, giving |
| engage in self-injury may develop Borderline | | | | them a safe place to "vent", etc.) |
| Personality Disorder as adults when not treated | | | | Help them to identify their feelings and talk them |
| for this as youth. Some young children may | | | | out rather than act on them. |
| resort to self-injurious acts from time to time, | | | | Practice positive stress management within the |
| however, they often grow out of it.Children with | | | | home. |
| autism or mental retardation may also show | | | | Help them to soothe themselves in a positive, |
| these behaviors which may persist into adulthood | | | | non-injurious, way. |
| when not treated at a younger age. Children who | | | | Help them to stop, think, and evaluate the pros |
| have been abandoned (adopted) or abused | | | | and cons of self-injury. Evaluation by a mental |
| (emotinally, physically, sexually) may | | | | health professional may assist in identifying and |
| self-mutilate.Why do adolescents and teens | | | | treating the underlying causes of cutting and |
| self-injure?Adolescents and teens that have | | | | self-injury. Feelings of wanting to die or kill |
| difficulty talking about and openly sharing their | | | | themselves are reasons for the parents of |
| feelings may show their emotional tension, low | | | | adolescents and teens to seek professional care |
| self-esteem, physical discomfort, and pain with | | | | immediately.A psychiatrist may also diagnose and |
| self-injurious behaviors. Although they may feel | | | | treat the serious psychiatric disorders that may |
| like the "steam" in the "pressure cooker" has been | | | | accompany self-injurious and cutting |
| released following the act of cutting and hurting | | | | behaviors.Dore E. |