|
Slitting my wrists
Well, I have a serious problem! I keep slitting my wrists to relieve my distress and anger and stress and pain and to get away from life. And every time I do, I faint. I have a friend who cuts herself too and she always tells me not to cut myself and that it will get me nowhere in life. Can you please help me and her with that? By the way, I'm thirteen and she's fourteen.
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
Hi, I'm old enough to be your grandfather; hopefully the wisdom that comes with age and life experiences will be helpful.
Cutting is a very serious and dangerous thing to be doing to yourselves. None of us are doctors and cannot for certain tell you why either of you are doing this. Each of you could and probably are doing so for somewhat different reasons, there called stressors. Cutting is your way of relieving stress and or depression. Much of this is brought on by what your body is going through with the changes caused by puberty. Hormonal changes, changes to your physical self, social changes and what is now expected of you. This is a lot of stress for someone as young as you.
Most teenagers when they cut themselves do so in places that are not noticeable to others. The fact that you are slitting your wrists, something I will come back to, makes me wonder why your parents haven't noticed.
The fact that you are "slitting your wrists", your words, gives me great cause for concern. Not only is cutting harmful; you have chosen a very dangerous place to cut yourself.
You and your girlfriend are not going to be able to stop cutting by yourselves. You are going to need a doctors help. There is nothing wrong with asking for a doctors help. It wasn't all that long ago we viewed what is happening, or causing you to cut yourself as a phase you would grow out of. Today we view it as something we can treat and help you with; it takes a doctor to do so.
Because of where your cutting yourself it is important that you don't delay in getting help. If you feel like cutting yourself and your parents are not home; please, please pick up the phone and dial 911. I would rather 911 send help then have you mistakenly cut an artery rather then a vein.
If mom, dad or both are at home as you read this please go talk to them. Show them your scars and tell them what you have been doing. Ask them to take you to the nearest hospital emergency room for help. For the same reason I said above.
I am worried that you could cut an artery and not a vein by accident. You don't have to cut to deep to do so in the area your cutting. It could be a total accident with a knife sharper than you are use too. So please, please do as I ask.
]
Yes, that is a very serious problem. What I would do is: instead of putting all your distresss, anger, and pain into more pain (on your wrists), find another safe way to release all your frustrations. Whenever you feel the urge to cut, think about something that makes you happy. I know it may sound crazy, but there is something in everyones life that will make them/you smile. Think of the time when your friend helped you do something, when you ate lunch together, or when you listened to your favorite song. Smiling or finding something to accomplish will help you and your friend to stop cutting. Why? Because you will be focusing on that one moment when you were having fun and accomplished something.
Start by making a list of all the things you and your friend like to do together or want to do, such as: walking in the park, laughing at silly jokes, painting a t-shirt, going camping, having a party, jumping on your beds, giving eachother makeovers, watching the stars or traveling to Hawaii. Anything you have done or want to learn, you could put in a scrapbook. Try taking pictures with her and write on it "this is me and my friend on a boat", then paste your pictures onto a ship. Wherever you want to go, you can imagine yourselves there and put yourselves there.
As long as you have something positive to occupy your time, you won't even think about cutting. Imagine a dream, have a dream, then make it happen. You and your friend have so much good in you! And you can use that good to help yourselves along with others. Your friend is definately right you know; cutting will get you nowhere in life. So, support eachother and ignore what others say that might bring you down; you are much better than them! Remember to have fun with your friend, talk to someone you trust if you need to and you will both make it through this <3
]
More Questions: |