
Lately it seems like every day I get a phone call or e-mail from a parent asking if they can talk to me about the suspicious scratches or scars that they've found on their teenage son or daughter. The explanations given by the teen are almost always the same: "It's nothing. It was the cat. It was an accident. Just forget about it and leave me alone."
It usually is what we call "cutting", or intentionally using a sharp object to, well, cut one's self. The results are obvious, but the reasons are not. Always take it seriously, and seek medical attention if needed, but it is far from hopeless even if your kid feels hopeless himself.
It usually is what we call "cutting", or intentionally using a sharp object to, well, cut one's self. The results are obvious, but the reasons are not. Always take it seriously, and seek medical attention if needed, but it is far from hopeless even if your kid feels hopeless himself.