Teens and Self Injury Dale Kaufman, MSSW School Social Worker Middleton-Cross Plains Area Schools [email protected]

Teens and Self Injury

Dale Kaufman, MSSWSchool Social Worker

Middleton-Cross Plains Area [email protected]

Agenda

1. General information regarding Self-Injury

2. View “Cut: The Movie” (56 minutes)

3. Resources

4. Evaluations

Please provide me with your email address if you would like a copy of the PowerPoint for this presentation.

DEFINITION of Self-Injury:• Deliberate self-inflicted harm resulting in tissue

damage without the conscious intent of suicide

• Behaviors include (but are not limited to):– Cutting, scratching– Burning– Interfering with the healing of wounds– Hitting or biting oneself– Head banging– Hair pulling

Incidence and Onset

• 4% in the general population

• = numbers of males and females (though more females present for treatment)

• Typical onset: puberty – though can be seen in young children and

adults

• Often lasts 5-10 years– But can last longer without treatment

Background Factors in Teens who Self-Injure: Generalized

• Found in = numbers in all ethnic groups• Nearly 50% report physical/sexual abuse (At

least 50% have NOT reporting abuse)• Many report that they were discouraged from

expressing emotion, particularly anger and sadness– Feelings of emptiness, over/under stimulated– Unable to express feelings– Lonely, fearful of intimate relationships or adult

responsibility– Feeling invalidated/disconnected from parents

Behavior Patterns

• Cutting arm/legs most common practice• May attempt to conceal injuries (long

sleeves/pants)• Often make excuses• Significant # also struggle with eating

disorders/substance/alcohol abuse– Big difference between self decorating

(tattoos/piercings) and self harm– Teens who self harm are seeking relief from

emotional distress

Warning Signs

• Unexplained, frequent injuries including cuts and bruises

• Wearing of long pants/sleeves in warm weather

• Low self-esteem• Overwhelmed by feelings• Inability to function at home, school or

work• Inability to maintain stable relationships

Dangers

• Can become desperate about lack of self-control and addictive-like nature of acts

• May lead to true suicidal attempts

• Self-injury may cause more harm than intended. Can result in medical complications or death

• Eating disorders/AODA intensifies threat to overall health and quality of life

Why? Purposes of Self-Injury:

• Analgesic• Connecting body and mind• Control• Cleansing• Punishment• Words cannot express pain• Combating a sense of invisibility• Rescue fantasy• Vengeance

Why? Reasons for Behavior:• Feelings of emptiness• Over/under stimulated• Unable to express feelings• Lonely• Not understood by others• Fearful of intimate relationships and adult responsibilities• Way to cope with or relieve painful/hard to express feelings• Relief is temporary• Self-destructive cycle often develops without treatment• Wanting to fit in• Feeling emotionally dead inside• Self harm feels alive and confirms existence• Coping strategy

Stigma

• Self-injury is not a behavior that “works” for someone who is not in acute emotional distress

• Important for caregivers to recognize that there is NO safe amount of self-injury

• Self-injury, like substance abuse and eating disorders, is a coping strategy used by people who are in emotional distress

• Those who self-injure feel great amounts of pain and often, shame

CUT: Teens and Self Injury

• A documentary produced and directed by Wendy Schneider

• www.cutthemovie.com

Parents…what you need to know

1. Injuring is a coping strategy and not the problem itself

• Instead of focusing on behavior understand that the child needs help to identify and express emotional issues verbally


2. Some parents find it hard to deal with their own emotional response..

• Don’t minimize the problem (assuming that he/she is just doing it “for attention”

• Know that self-injury is never a healthy coping strategy. It is an indication that the child is having trouble coping with stressful issues and emotions.

• Some teens are more open with a professional than their parent

• Don’t overreact…result could be more hiding of behavior


3. Fear, anger and guilt are all normal reactions. Try to process your own feelings and remain understanding of your teen

• Remember…your child is in a great deal of emotional pain that he/she has not been able to express directly


4. Have appropriate expectations of your teen

• Adolescents generally find it difficult to indentify, much less discuss feelings and issues that underlie self-injury

• It takes time and work


5. Don’t expect to be able to fix the problem yourself

• Be available to listen and empathize but…• Teens are usually in need of professional

assessment and possibly treatment– Parents are NOT betraying their child by seeking help– By seeking help, you are modeling healthy parental

attitudes and showing that you can accept problems and deal with them constructive


6. Try not to threaten or overprotect your teen in an effort to stop the behavior

• Power struggles rarely work• Openly express concern• Indicate that you want to help• Encourage teen to talk to you and/or another

trusted adult• Get professional help, if warranted• If you observe an actual injury, you can, if

necessary transport teen to ER or doctor


7. Don’t hesitate to seek help

• Therapy

• Hospitalization


8. Take care of yourself!!!!!!

• Affects the entire family

• Therapy can help both parents and siblings

• Important to identify and express your own feelings in a healthy way

9. Don’t expect a quick cure…it takes time to heal


• If you believe your child is suicidal, IMMEDIATELY contact your therapist, if you have one or call 911

• Self-injury is a strong risk for suicide

• Take suicidal statements seriously

Documents

Teens and Self Injury Dale Kaufman, MSSW School Social Worker Middleton-Cross Plains Area Schools [email protected]