Cutting(self-mutilation)-SchoolRack.docVIP

Cutting (self-mutilation) What can you tell me about the mental disorder called cutting or self-mutilation? No name ?/? No state given Repeated, intentional self-injury, or self-mutilation, is more common than most people think. It affects more females than males. This behavior often starts in the early teens and may continue for many years. The frequency and severity of the injuries may vary. Areas of the body that are most often injured are the arms and the front of the torso and legs. Many individuals who engage in self-injury were sexually or physically abused as children. Self-injury may occur in many forms, including cutting the skin or burning the skin with a cigarette. Its often an attempt to get temporary relief from increasing emotional pain. The intent behind the injury isnt suicide. But people who repeatedly injure themselves are at greater risk of suicide. Self-injury can be associated with mental illnesses such as: Borderline personality disorder Antisocial personality disorder Post-traumatic stress syndrome Eating disorders, such as bulimia Substance abuse disorders But it can also become an overwhelming preoccupation in itself. An affected person may want to stop the behavior but cant. In these cases, doctors consider self-injury to be an impulse control disorder. Cutting isnt always a mental disorder. Some may do it for attention or as a result of drug use or peer influence. People who intentionally harm themselves, for any reason, should be evaluated by a mental health professional. Treatment is often difficult and depends on the underlying cause. But it usually includes: Medications, such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers Psychotherapy ? 1998-2004 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). /invoke.cfm?id=AN00396 Self-injury: You are NOT the only one Since you ask, most days I cannot remember.I walk in my clothing, unmarked by that voyage.Then the almost unnameable lust returns. --Anne Sexton Introd