How To Help A Child Or Youth That Is Suffering From Self-Abuse
Cutting; Slashing; Self-Tattooing
Without sensitive support, cutting, slashing, and self-tattooing can be dangerous and life threatening to children & youth. This is a sign that sensitive support is needed quickly. Youth often report that these behaviors are attempts to cope with overwhelmingly painful feelings. This behavior also can be influenced by peer pressure and the desire to belong to a particular group. Self-abuse can be caused by and further complicated by a number of factors including: medical illness; depression, anxiety or other mental illness; family patterns of miscommunication; lack of family understanding; lack of being listened to and acknowledged realistically; unhealed abuses of all kinds (physical, sexual, emotional, intellectual); abandonment; isolation; loneliness; nutritional imbalances; sleep deprivation; unexpressed fear, anger, self-loathing, confusion; emotional and/or physical discomfort caused by unhealed accidents; exposure to environmental pollutants.
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First, We Would Investigate |
Second, We Would Investigate |
For Long Term Support |
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On Our Own We Would Try: • Replace sodas, juices, sugars, fats, fast foods with water, veggies, whole grains, nuts, protein, fruit, slow food • Less or No TV, Movies, Video/Computer Games • Bedtime Stories and Chats • Wholesome Pleasures • Back Rubs and Foot Massages • Long Walks/Hikes • Pets • Nature |
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For Parents: • Get a medical evaluation as soon as possible. This is very frightening for families. • Stay calm and acknowledge what is happening. “I’m sorry and I love you” are powerful things to feel and say when you can’t think of anything else. • Learn and use Nonviolent Communication to respond. • Make sure there is enough unstructured family time, without distractions, that conversations can happen easily. • Through local health departments, therapists, you can learn how to hold effective, enjoyable weekly family meetings to keep the child or youth connected to the family. • Good food, safe sleep and exercise are important and likely difficult to get to happen. |