Cutting and self-harm: Why it happens and what to do

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Cutting and self-harm: Why it happens and what to do - iebpharma2024 - 03-17-2024

The notion that hurting yourself can make you feel better seems like a contradiction. But that's exactly what drives skin cutting and similar forms of self-harm among adolescents, says Matthew Nock, chair of the department of psychology at Harvard University.

If you're a parent, you may have heard about cutting or be wondering about red flags. Here are the basics on what to know, and how you can respond if you're concerned about this form of self-harm.

What is self-harm?
"Self-harm is the intentional destruction of body tissue in the Sunitix 50mg (Sunitinib) absence of any intent to die," explains Nock, who specializes in treating self-injury behaviors in childhood to young adulthood. "Most often it happens on the arms and takes the form of cutting with some type of sharp object, such as a razor blade, pencil, or pocket knife. It might also include burning the skin or inserting objects under the skin, such as paper clips."
How many teens engage in self-harm?
About 17% of teenagers engage in self-harm at least once, according to the American Psychological Association.

Many who do so begin between ages 12 and 14, when adolescence can deliver a one-two punch: combining a new mental health disorder with greater risk-taking behaviors, explains Nock.

What leads some teens to engage in cutting?
Cutting appears to affect all genders of adolescents equally, Nock notes. But what factors make teens more likely to do it? In addition to experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, teens who cut themselves may be more apt to use drugs or alcohol.

A 2022 study in Child and Adolescent Mental Health suggests additional contributing factors, including family problems, school or job challenges, and struggling relationships with friends. Ultimately, cutting appears to have three contributing components, Nock says: psychological, biological, and social.

"Kids who engage in self-injury have difficulty tolerating emotional distress and are more likely to try to escape from those feelings," he says. "It might be that their pain demands attention, and when they're really upset, cutting themselves focuses on their physical pain and reduces their psychological pain."

The sense of relief or release after cutting reinforces the behavior, leading teens to cut themselves again and again. "An adult who's feeling upset may have a drink, go for a run, or engage in yoga to decrease their distress. When they feel better afterward, that behavior gets reinforced," Nock says. "We think the same is true with self-injury: if you feel really bad and cut yourself, the feeling goes away.