Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I’ve been busy this last week with Blog Hops and Book Fairs, but I’m back with another teen issue. The issue I’m talking about is Cutting or Self Harm.
According to my research, cutting is on the rise. In fact, the number of children and teenagers who have asked for help after considering hurting themselves with knives or drugs has gone up by two thirds in a year.
Read more from this article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2243369/Worrying-teenage-trend-self-harming-sparks-sharp-increase-calls-Childline.html
I read about this and I wonder how does this happen? How do teens spiral down into this web of hurting themselves to feel better? So, what I did is, I spoke with someone who’s been in that predicament. Please welcome Julia Blakeney. She’s here to share her story on Self Harm.
Welcome Julia!
First a little bit of information. Julia is nineteen years old and a sophomore in college. She’s hoping to transfer to LSU for the next academic year.
Julia how did this all start?
It started in high school. I was feeling depressed and my mother, who was in health care at the time, took me to the doctor. He prescribed an anti-depressant (Prozac) and had me speak with a social worker. That worked for a while.
Then the summer after my junior year in high school my brother and my best friend went to boot camp. My brother, who is two years older than me, went into the army. And my best friend, who is one year older than me, went into the Navy. I felt totally alone and I didn’t have anyone to talk to.
So would you say your brother and your friend leaving was a trigger to the cutting behavior?
Yes. I would have to say that. I became angry and felt like I was screwing up all the time. My parents always seemed mad and so did my sister. And I couldn’t talk to my mother when she was angry with me.
Is this when you started cutting yourself?
Yes. It made me feel better to cut myself. It seemed to relieve the pressure. Please understand the cutting is not to get attention like so many people think. I tried to hide it. I would wear bracelets to hide the scars.
Why do you think you started cutting yourself?
I felt angry. Angry at being left behind by my friend and my brother. I also repressed a lot of anger and sadness. I wouldn’t let myself be sad or cry over missing my friend and brother.
Why do you think cutting made you feel better?
I’m not sure why cutting made me feel better. Maybe it was because of the adrenaline or it could be about control. You know, controlling the pain.
Did your Social Worker know?
I stopped going to her at the end of my junior year, so I don’t think so.
How did you stop?
I finally told my mom. And she was really cool. She didn’t yell or scream at me, but she did take away all the sharp objects that I could use to cut myself. I didn’t want to ask for help. My mom had me go back to my therapist and I switched medication. I dropped Prozac and started taking Zoloft. That’s when I stopped cutting.
However, I became anti-social during my senior year. I wasn’t feeling well emotionally and I didn’t want to be around people. I stayed in my room a lot.
Wow. Sounds like you were going through a lot. Can you tell us the warning signs that we should look out for?
Yes. My behavior changed radically. I was happy and outgoing and then I became withdrawn. I was sleeping a lot and that worried my mother. She took me to the doctor because she thought I had Mono.
I was crying a lot and then I shut down my emotions because no one wanted to hear about it. That’s when I started cutting.
Thanks Julia for being brave and sharing your story with us!
Cutting or Self Harm is a sign of emotional distress that young teens can’t articulate into words. According to http://www.mind.org.uk/mental_health_a-z/8006_self-harm young women are more likely to engage in this type of behavior. For more information on self-harm please click on this link. http://www.mind.org.uk/mental_health_a-z/8006_self-harm
Thanks Julia for being here today and sharing your story. If you suspect someone you know is engaging in this type of behavior please let an authority figure know, so they can take steps to intervene before it’s too late. Because self harm is the first step toward suicide. Please leave a comment and share your thoughts. If you have a question, speak up and we’ll try and answer it for you! 🙂
Thanks for reading my post today! 🙂
I have known a handful of people who have gotten involved in cutting, mostly teens but also one adult. In each case, they’ve said the same thing Julia said, that it helped to “relieve pressure.” Teens today are under a different sort of pressure that what past generations have experienced. I’m not entirely sure if it’s more pressure or “just” different. As a society, we’ve become so much more mobile, and I wonder sometimes if that affects the experience of our teens. Children are less likely to grow up with the loving support of an extended family because parents are moving from one side of the country to another for employment. When you add divorce, or even families that are still ‘together’ but split between states because of work requirements, or children who have a parent in the military…I wonder sometimes if all those things help create an atmosphere of isolation within our own homes. When kids struggle outside the home (whether it’s school, work, sports, etc.) and feel isolated, pressured and singled-out there, they should be able to come home to a place that feels safe, comforting and refreshing to them. When that spirit of isolation pervades our homes, too, though…then where is the safe place that our teens and children go so that they can feel protected, get built up and hear from others that they are capable of “doing anything” and “taking on the world.” Sorry for the wordy post…too many random thoughts to narrow down.
No apologies necessary for the wordy post! I love reading comments.Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this sensitive subject, Julia and Lisa. Well done, and well said.
Thanks for stopping by Sharon and sharing your thoughts with us! 🙂
Julia, By speaking out– it will help someone else get help. All my best to you. Please know whenever there is something that bothers you, reach out. To your mother, pastor, teacher, or another family member. Nothing is so bad that you can’t share with someone!
Thanks for stopping by Virginia and for your kind words. 🙂
I’m so glad you got help, Julia. I’m sorry you went through this, but it’s very brave of you to share your experiences.
Thanks for stopping by Della and for your thoughtful words. 🙂
Reblogged this on lisaorchard and commented:
Hello everyone! I thought it would be great to See Julia’s Story again! Here it is!