What Do You Do For A Kid Who Is Cutting Themselves?

[pegasus216]

Karen's dad just called, and told us that his other daughter, who is 12, has started cutting herself.
He doesn't know how to handle this, and neither do I.
He is going to take her to counseling, but what else can he do to get her to stop this?

 

[do1you9love?]

Karen's dad just called, and told us that his other daughter, who is 12, has started cutting herself.
He doesn't know how to handle this, and neither do I.
He is going to take her to counseling, but what else can he do to get her to stop this?

That's the first and most important step. I would recommend he, and any other adults in her life, read Skin Game by Caroline Kettlewell. It's a memoir by someone who started cutting at age 12 and her struggle to understand why and overcome the compulsion. He and her therapist may decide she should read it as well. Best of luck to them! (((Karen's dad and other daughter)))

 

[kingricefan]

Definitely get her into therapy. Cutting is a cry for help. Make sure that she knows that she is loved, loved, loved no matter what comes out in therapy sessions. She needs to know that she has support.

 

[arista]

Show how much love and care for her. Cutting is a cry for help for those who are in so much pain.

 

[king family fan]

Cutting is a pain experience for everyone . I have a child who started cutting around 15 and we seeked help . Her cutting has finally stopped but not without many scars. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers. To this day my daughter wears a rubber band on her wrist that she can snap,when she gets the urge to cut. A cry for help.I wish her the best.

 

[Neesy]

Karen's dad just called, and told us that his other daughter, who is 12, has started cutting herself.
He doesn't know how to handle this, and neither do I.
He is going to take her to counseling, but what else can he do to get her to stop this?

We took all the sharp instruments he had collected and hid them away, but the counselling is very important - after my son had been seeing a psychiatrist it helped immensely; like everyone has already said, it is a cry for help.

 

[GNTLGNT]

....those who do self-mutilation seem to feel it is a way to release pain, "demons" or whatever.....it is going to take a lot of very empathetic counseling, and preferably by someone who has been there-to help her through this......I hope she gets past the darkness......

 

[mjs9153]

Yes,to all the good advice above,to those in my field they were known as "hesitation marks",a prelude to a real suicide attempt,so real intervention by a good mental health professional is necessary..best wishes that it can be straightened out,many people do and live happy and productive lives..

 

[Grandpa]

My singular experience with a cutter was a friend's daughter who really had no problems in her environment.

As I found out, and as is true with so many things, it's not the reality of the situation that controls - it's the perception. If the problems are completely in the head, well, those still need to be addressed.

Good luck with the counseling. In a sea of uncertainty, you take the best course you can, and that's absolutely the right move.