Self Cutting In Adolescents

Adolescents, aged between 13 and 18 years, who experience trauma and cannot express their destructive moods may habitually self-cut (Cullen, Westland, LaRiviere & Klimes-Dougan, 2013). Release of emotions as they cut resembles a drug and becomes compulsory. The teenage coping mechanism of self-cutting is an addiction because it progresses with use and provides a euphoric fix (Brown & Kimball, 2013). Self-injury, damaging one’s own body tissue without intent to die, occurs in about 18% of teens (Cullen et el., 2013). Nock, Prinstein, and Sterba, (2010) reports adolescents use cutting to distract negative thoughts and bad memories. Adolescents’ brains are sometimes not equipped to handle adverse emotions, thus, risk taking behavior such self-harm may develop (Ougrin et al., 2012). Neglect and trauma may trigger this phenomenon in teenagers. (Ougrin et al., 2012). Self-cutting becomes a vicious cycle of self-harm and emotional release (Hill & Dallos, 2012). The pattern of cutting and its use as emotion regulation show how some teen’s self-harm behavior becomes habitual (Brain, Haines, & Williams, 2002) According to Brown and Kimball 2013, progression involves cutting deeper, more …show more content…
For example, Sandman and Hetrick (1995) concluded the increased opioid production after mutilation blending with mental and biologic processes may cause addiction. Participants in a study by Brown and Kimball (2013) described their self-harm an addiction, and some associated it with the high experienced by drug users (Brown & Kimball, 2013). Each participant expressed feelings of relief, euphoria, and spoke of self-cutting fondly. They depicted self-harm as a reliable fix that brings them clarity (Brown & Kimball, 2013). According to Sandman & Hetrick (1995) the physiology of self-harm and the physiology of heroin addiction is similar. The slashing becomes addictive because the cutting alters their emotional state (Brown & Kimball,