How Can You Tell If Your Teenager Is Engaging In Cutting Behaviors?

Kids cut themselves for a variety of reasons. Often cutting comes as a result of anxiety, perfectionism, or as the result of problems at home or at school. Sometimes, cutting is a symptom of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder or another form of mental illness. Some kids cut themselves because they're simply trying to form an identity for themselves. Unfortunately, cutting can be dangerous, and can also be indicative of other disorders that need treatment. Being able to identify cutting can help you get your child the help he or she needs.

How can you tell if your teenager is engaging in cutting behaviors?

If your child is cutting him or herself, you may see one or several warning signs, including:

• Unexplained scratches. The most obvious warning sign are the actual cuts, usually located on the child's arms or legs. These cuts may be thin and linear, like cat scratches. Sometimes these cuts will appear in simple parallel lines, like railroad tracks. Other times, the cuts may be made into the form of letters or words. Kids who cut themselves may write words that identify a source of emotional pain, like "loser" or "fat."
• Out-of-season clothing. Your child may attempt to cover these scratches with long sleeves and long pants, even at warm times of the year.
• Mood swings. Cutting usually accompanies intense mood swings and feelings of anxiety or depression.
• Blood stains. You may find bloody rags or tissues in your child's laundry or trash.
• Razors and other sharp objects. Your teenager may have razors and other things that could be used to hurt him or herself. It's important to remember that kids who cut don't always use razors--sometimes they poke themselves, burn themselves and hurt themselves in less obvious ways.

What should you do if your teenager is cutting?

If your teenager is cutting him or herself, you should:

• Seek a psych evaluation. The first thing you need to do is rule out serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia. Have your child evaluated by a professional.
• Start therapy. Even if your child's psych evaluation doesn't reveal a serious mental illness, your child needs help right away. Find a therapist who specializes in this kind of disorder.
• Encourage self-expression. Cutting is often done as an unhealthy form of self-expression. You can encourage your teenager to engage in more healthy forms of self-expression by having your teen enroll in art or writing classes. Have your child start a journal or learn to play an instrument. These healthier forms of creativity can also be used as an outlet.
• Join a support group. Have your child join a support group. Being able to talk to others about this problem can reduce feelings of isolation and help curb the urge the cut.
• Find an inpatient program. Cutting is serious behavior that often gets worse with time. If your child continues to cut, you may need to have your child join an inpatient rehab program.

For more information, contact a therapist or a psychiatrist in your area with experience handling children with this kind of problem. He or she can answer your questions and help you find help for your child. For more information, contact a company like Rainbow Pediatrics.