For Parents
When parents first find out that their child has been cutting or self-harming, it can be terrifying. Even though you may have noticed some differences in your teen's mood, behavior, friends or grades, it still can come as a complete shock. You might be thinking "How long has this been going on?" "Why are you doing this?" "Why would you try to kill yourself?" or "I never knew you were hurting". These are all very common thoughts that parents have initially. Many parents think the worse case scenario and automatically assume that their child wants to kill him/her self.
When first finding out about your child's self-harming behavior, it's SO important to remain calm. Don't start making assumptions about anything until you have all the facts. Calmly bring the issue up with your child and let them know that no matter what, you love them and want them to know that you aren't going to freak out on them with the information they are going to share with you. Many kids DON'T share about this behavior because they fear their parents will overreact and send them away to a mental hospital. They want to know that you are going to listen to them and try to understand instead of get angry and hand down a punishment.
For more information about cutting self-injury, check out this website.
When first finding out about your child's self-harming behavior, it's SO important to remain calm. Don't start making assumptions about anything until you have all the facts. Calmly bring the issue up with your child and let them know that no matter what, you love them and want them to know that you aren't going to freak out on them with the information they are going to share with you. Many kids DON'T share about this behavior because they fear their parents will overreact and send them away to a mental hospital. They want to know that you are going to listen to them and try to understand instead of get angry and hand down a punishment.
For more information about cutting self-injury, check out this website.
For Teens
“We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
Sometimes life can be HARD. Managing the demands of your family, friends, and school can be so overwhelming at times and everyone handles that stress differently. Worrying about pleasing our parents, getting along with siblings, being a good friend, and maintaining good grades are all a normal part of being a teenager. It's a lot of pressure!
Many teens have a difficult time managing the emotions that are caused by the worrying and anxiety. The feelings are too big, and the anxiety is debilitating. Because of this, you may have developed ways of dealing with the feelings and anxiety that are unhealthy. That might include, drugs, alcohol, irresponsible sex, or self-harming. All of these things might help with the big feelings in the moment, but I'm guessing you would say that you feel worse afterward.
If that's true for you, and you want to learn how to deal with the big feelings, worry, and anxiety in a healthier way, I would love to help you do that. I LOVE working with my teenage clients and I would love to give you the opportunity to share what's going on in your life that is causing so many big feelings so that you can process those and learn how to deal with them in an appropriate way. I would be honored to hear you story.
Many teens have a difficult time managing the emotions that are caused by the worrying and anxiety. The feelings are too big, and the anxiety is debilitating. Because of this, you may have developed ways of dealing with the feelings and anxiety that are unhealthy. That might include, drugs, alcohol, irresponsible sex, or self-harming. All of these things might help with the big feelings in the moment, but I'm guessing you would say that you feel worse afterward.
If that's true for you, and you want to learn how to deal with the big feelings, worry, and anxiety in a healthier way, I would love to help you do that. I LOVE working with my teenage clients and I would love to give you the opportunity to share what's going on in your life that is causing so many big feelings so that you can process those and learn how to deal with them in an appropriate way. I would be honored to hear you story.