Do people realize how commonly teenagers cut their wrist and harm themselves? As a teenager at the middle school and knowing people at middle and high school, I see a lot of it. I know of lots of teens who cut themselves on purpose.

Most people who cut themselves are between the ages of 10 to 16 years old. Some of the reasons people cut are because of a major change in life, such as divorce or death, or a history of violence and abuse. Intense feelings of fear, hurt, anger, rejection or abandonment, or feeling a loss and the need for control are also reasons for self-mutilation.

Some people cut themselves because they feel pain on the inside instead of the outside. They do it to cope with their feelings. They do it to express anger toward themselves. They also do it because they want to feel alive and real. Most of the people who cut are trying to get people to react to their actions. They want people’s attention.

Others who don’t cut themselves may hurt themselves in other ways.

Most cutters feel they have little control over their lives. Some people do it because they feel so dead inside that even a bad feeling is better than no feeling at all.

Community members should be aware of how serious cutting or self-mutilation can be for teens and young adults.

Britney Richardson

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