Hi. I am 13, I live with my parents and my grandmother. I don’t know what made me cut, but now I cut every day. 10-20 small clean cuts all over my body and several deep and long. I am an excellent hider, and can hide my emotions from time to time, but one day I just couldn’t stand anyone to control me. I hate studying and I cry because of it a lot. I am searching for info not because I want to stop, but to know for sure I can stop.

Knowing how to self-heal myself is even better. I have always been a deep thinker. I wanted to get to know my self better, and actually now I have two lives. One in school, by my parents and family. And the other when I am alone. I usually don’t know what makes me cry, but after a minute crying isn’t enough. Help me by telling me how I can stop (but i will not do it) and that I can stop. Help me pls. P.S.my family doesn’t know, my bestfriend knows and is forcing me to stop. ~ Patricia

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I sat with a group of teens and we talked about the issue of violence.

QUESTION: A lot of adults are concerned about violence. If you could tell them what the real issues of violence was about, what would you say?

Tony: If I see a violent movie, it doesn’t make me want to kill someone. I’m used to watching these movies. But for me, we don’t seem to talk about what really matters. Like, if I ever thought about suicide, I wish that I could have that conversation with my family. Because if you are feeling that way, you want to talk about what’s really going on, you know, underneath.

Rachel: I need a safe place to go. I need to feel accepted. If you don’t, then you feel like hurting yourself.

After talking for about a half-hour they confirmed what I believed all along. The issue of violence isn’t as much about the pretend world, as it is about real-life issues like: (more…)

To follow up yesterday’s question from a mom about self-injury, here’s a great link to find helpful information about overcoming, recognizing, and dealing with cutting.

 

Thank you for your article in Christianity Today on self-injury. Recently, my son told me that a friend of his from church was cutting himself.  This boy’s former girlfriend did this, as well, and that was why his parents made him break up with her.  They have since told him that he cannot be with anyone until he is sixteen. 

 

So, yesterday he came home with us from church and spent the afternoon. When he left, my son told me that he was still cutting himself and that he was secretly going with the girl behind his parents’ backs. My son also showed me three knifes that his friend entrusted to his care. I am friends with the mother and do not know what to do about this. If I tell her, then the boy will know that my son betrayed his confidence. If I do not tell her, what will happen to him?  After reading your article, I see that counseling is a necessary step in the healing of this problem.  What do you suggest?  Should I tell or just continue to pray that he stops and seeks help on his own?

A worried mom (more…)

“Body obsession is a distraction from the more important aspects of self,” explains Dr. Linda Mintle, licensed clinical psychologist. “Outer beauty is only a facade that often hides the deeper character issues of a person.”

Nancy Alcorn has written a series of books on addiction, cutting, sexual abuse, and eating disorders. She works with girls seeking help for each of these in a nationally-recognized residential ministry called Mercy House. In her new book, Starved: Mercy for Eating Disorders, Alcorn offers faith-based hope for those needing freedom from eating disorders. She identifies the root issues connected with an eating disorder and offers practical principles that can be applied to bring restoration and lasting freedom.

For more information about Mercy ministries, click here.

My daughter has been cutting off and on when she gets stressed since she was 11 and she is now 13. I have got her counseling and the counselor said she is fine. I have tried to talk to her and she says I don’t know how to say what I feel. She will hide it and deny it when you see a cut. When things are really bad though you will see 6-8 cuts in a row on the under side of her arm by her arm pit.We just got a call from the counselor at school to say that she is cutting again. She needs help but she isn’t asking for help. Do you have any good articles that my husband and I can read?  (more…)

Pick her up, God

by Brooke Giddens 

She thinks she’s cool doing drugs and partying every night
My only prayer is that she will one day see the light
she hides under her make up and black hair
Somedays I wonder if she even really cares
She seems so happy with such and awful life,
But sometimes I wonder if she thinks of death by knife
She says she used to cut herself, but she stopped this year.
Her stories pain me and nearly bring me to tears.
I want to say, “Why Lord have you given me so many blessings?
When this girl has nothing.
I invite her to church, but she doesn’t want to come.
She says last time she went the congregation all made fun, (more…)

 Self-injury is a growing topic among teens and twentysomethings, but especially among young teen girls. Jan Kern addresses cutting and other forms of self-injury by sharing the story of a girl who once self-injured. Scars That Wound, Scars That Heal is a inside look at self-injury.

It’s compassionate. It’s in-depth with quotes and insight from those who self-injure(d), those who love them, and those who are professionals in the field.

Kern takes it a step deeper by addressing the spiritual need that someone who is cutting may need to hear–God loves you and He’s not going anywhere just because you struggle with self-injury.

This is an excellent resource for pastors, youth pastors, parents, youth staff, and those who self-injure and want to find their way out.

Five Stars!