It's no secret that, for years, the pressures in a young person's life — academic responsibility, parental stress, social anxieties — have led many to injure themselves. What's disconcerting is that self-abuse is on the rise.

For many kids who cut themselves, the act serves as a form of control. In the midst of what feels like chaos, cutting allows some people to exercise power over one aspect of their lives, according to Luanne Southern, NMHA senior director of prevention and children's mental health services.

"I think that more kids are doing it, and we're recognizing it more than perhaps we did in the past," Southern said. "But I also think that there are some exacerbating factors. We all lead very busy lives. Parents are working; we have a lot on our plates. I think that we put a lot of stress and undue pressure on our young people."

This sentiment is echoed in the countless message boards dedicated to self-abuse. "I usually find myself doing it because I want all the thoughts in my head to stop," posted one member of a MySpace group for cutters. "They always put me down and made me upset, but during and after I cut, they all stop and go away and I can just relax for a bit."

Increased awareness is key. But finding a community that can comfort, inform and transform abusers is another matter. Many young people report feeling like they are burdening parents by talking about their problems when their folks are constantly busy with work and other stresses. Southern suggests that the perception that some teens have no support system may even contribute to the self-abuse cycle.

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When a person suffers from these negative inner voices, they may eventually act out as a way to stop them. Sometimes, inflicting pain is a way for a person to counteract their negative feelings. Physical pain can serve as a substitute for emotional pain.

In this case, the person who self-harms may be a teen who has been told over and over that he is an awful person. Perhaps this person feels he deserves self-injury. As twisted as that thinking is, it is not uncommon for those who are abused to inflict abuse, even on themselves.

There are still other situations in which people who inflict injury on themselves are crying out for attention. Perhaps they suffer from depression or other grave emotional problems, but they do not know how to express themselves.

In conclusion, it may be difficult to imagine causing physical harm to yourself by inflicting injuries. If, however, you know someone who chooses to injure himself, try to understand that this behavior reflects some
serious problems.

You will probably want encourage this person to get professional help. Keep in mind, too, that those who cut themselves often do so in secret. If you suspect your child or another loved one is engaging in this behavior, try to get them to talk about it at all possible. As previously stated, it is likely a cry for help, and one that should not be ignored.

Hmm

Some consider it to be relieving or calming, especially with stress release or anxiety, since after experiencing pain, the body releases pain-killing chemicals (endorphins?) In my humble opinion, this is a much better alternative to taking drugs, even OTC drugs since it's all natural, or abusing alcohol or getting an eating disorder etc. etc. I would recommend excercise first, since it does basically the same thing w/o the risk of infection and leaving scars, but if you are going to cut, make sure you sterilize the blade first and clean the wound with antiseptic and all that. Try to cut in inconspicuous places since those scars will be there pretty much forever. At any rate, I think cutters aren't so much people who are depressed as those who tend to be affected by their environment and have high levels of anxiety or nervousness.

Stress release... that explains it all.

HAHAHA

man, nomatter how you act, nomatter how much you hate me, i will blablabla. ngaww less than three haha. sorry for pissing you off, bu shi gu yi de. @_@ cya~

happy birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZUL AND ERA! WOOTS DOUBLE BDAY HELL YEAH@ HAHAH.

hmm

happy 17th bday vance tan. may you have an enjoyable day mate. =D

ntoe to self

note to self:
mid-term 3 blacks, i win drink
no 3 black, i lose drink D: