Cutting
Cutting /self-injury: a sign of female depression
Vasiliki Dimitrakopoulou
During puberty, teens go through many emotional changes, even depression. According to research, 20% of adolescents show symptoms of depression, while the percentage of teenagers diagnosed with depression is 5%.
Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms including: loss of energy for long periods of time, loss of interest in daily activities, anger, irritability or aggressiveness, insomnia, concentration problems in classroom, appetite or weight changes (fat loss or weight gain), feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, feeling guilty or worthless, tendency to isolation. Depression can also go along with unusual preoccupation with death or dying and self-injury behavior such as “cutting”. According to research 13.2% of teens engage in self-harm.
“Cutting” is a form of self-injury by which a person is literally making small cuts on his or her body, with sharp objects, until it starts bleeding. Teens usually prefer the arms and legs or other parts of their body, where cuts can be easily hidden. A teenage girl may engage in “cutting” because she feels pressure, anxiety, rejection, in an attempt to release her emotional pain. She believes that providing a distraction from painful emotions through physical pain helps her release the pain and tension she feels inside. Nevertheless, the emotional pain is still there, even after cutting.
When you experience difficulties that you can’t handle, it is important to get help and support from a trained professional. A therapist will help you identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behavior, will guide you how to deal with them and will also make you feel you’re not alone but have someone that understands and supports you.
Moreover, if you’re experiencing negative feelings, he will show you how to find alternative ways of coping, i.e. a creative activity such as painting, or composing poems. If you don’t feel ready to confide in someone, try writing down all your feelings. Sport, exercise, running or dancing might also help you discharge your emotions. Another coping technique is to rub a gum against the part you want to “cut” or mark it with a red pen.
In any case, it is important you confide in a person you trust and not keep your feelings inside.
Vassiliki DimitrakopoulouPsychologist, Scientific Associate of the Greek Society of Adolescent Medicine
