Why Do Teens Cut or Self-Injure?
2009 February 09 by: Scott
The act of “cutting” or making scratches on arms, legs or other body parts is not a halfhearted attempt at suicide. In fact, it’s an effort by the self-injury individual to feel alive. Individuals who cut or self-injure often perform this act as a way to handle life, not to die, or end the life. Placing Cuts on the body is not the only way to self-injure. Some individuals burn themselves or mutilate parts of the body with instruments or fingers.
The following are common reasons why individuals cut or self-injure:
- Anger or stress relief
- Escaping a bad or unwanted feeling
- Expressing emotional pain
- Influencing peers or family
- Preventing suicide
- Coping with feelings
Common reasons self-injury individuals give for NOT stopping this behavior:
“I can do whatever I want with my body.”
“I am now in control.”
“The scars remind me of my control to control my pain.”
“My cutting does not hurt anyone but me.”
“If I don’t self-injure, I may do something worse.”
Brain Chemistry Behind Cutting and Self-Injury
Brain chemistry may play a role in determining who self-injures and who doesn’t. In the early 1990’s, Favazza & Simeon found that people who self-injure tend to be more angry, impulsive, anxious, and aggressive. Their studies provided evidence that some of these characteristics may be linked to deficits in the brain’s serotonin system. In 1994, Zweig-Frank also suggest that degree of self-injury is related to a serotonin dysfunction and in 2000, Steiger , in a study of bulimics, found that serotonin function in bulimic women was significantly lower in bulimics who also engaged in self-harm. Serotonin acts both as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve signals between nerve cells and that causes blood vessels to narrow. Changes in the serotonin levels in the brain can alter an individual’s mood.
could a teen be cutting to try and get drugs?
Most teens cut to exchange emotional pain for physical pain. Like drugs, the effects of cutting does not last until you do it again. The truth: running, exercising, dancing and doing anything aerobic will stimulate or signal the body chemicals to create the same effects as cutting.
The act of cutting, like taking drugs can be habit forming and addictive. That’s why it is important not to begin cutting (or using drugs). If you are cutting, get help.
how do you know that everyone who cuts can just get up and run or do what ever it is that you said there are those who can’t and so what if it is an addiction do you care for every individual who cuts answer me!!!
No, no one cares about every individual who cuts. It’s just human nature to not care. Learn to care for yourself first, that’s the rule. And he said any aerobic exercise. If you’re in a wheel chair, then I sympathize with you and realize you can’t run, walk, jump, or dance. There are still other ways, though. It may not be the exact same stimulus, but drawing, writing prose or poetry, talking to someone, or screaming into a pillow can help also. If not, get off the chair. Sitting on a swing even helps a little. He knows these things because it is proven fact. Look it up. I don’t mean to sound heartless to you for your situation–whatever it may be–and I don’t mean to be cold to you. Its obvious you’re in a lot of pain, and need some help. Not particularly psychiatric, seeing as how that didn’t help me. Find your own way to help yourself…other than cutting, of course. Good luck in bettering yourself. =)