One of the latest teen health issues that has been the subject of many teen health articles, is the phenomenon called ‘cutting’. It is precisely what it sounds like, a tendency to inflict cuts or wounds on one’s own body with the objective of feeling pain. It begins with inflicting cuts with anything sharp object like a knife, blade or scissors which is at hand and is usually done in the concealed parts of the body like the legs, arms and chest.

The reasons for ‘cutting’ can vary among teens and the most common reason is the release of some kind of emotion. ‘Cutting’ is usually the result of a thwarted attempt to express some strong emotions they may be experiencing and see this as the only escape. It is used as a safety valve to give vent to some emotional pressure or pain or give expression to strong feelings of desperation, anger, sadness and rejection.

In the case of others who resort to cutting, there are other issues concerned and this is often indicative of other mental health challenges. ‘Cutting’ is often associated with bipolar disorders, depression, eating disorders or obsessive compulsive disorders. Mental issues could also be manifested in the form of cutting as such individuals are prone to impulsive behavior and taking avoidable risks. Some of these teenagers show signs of drug and alcohol abuse and other issues related to teen health.

In other instances, ‘cutting’ can be a response to abuse or other traumatic experiences. This could be done to shock them out of the numbness of a situation, or it could be a means to repeatedly put them through the same pain in an attempt to gain control of the situation.

All seriousness should be allotted to tackling the issue of ‘cutting’ which is very grave. If teens are seen wearing long sleeves all the time, this could be a cause for alarm. Signs of depression should be noticed along with a tendency to be moody. A professional in the field of mental health is the best bet if a teen is suspected of resorting to ‘cutting’. On the other hand, one can also consider having a talk with their teen children and apprise them of the seriousness of the situation even if they have not engaged in the act of ‘cutting’. The fact that they can come to you and talk on this subject and that their feelings are important should be conveyed to them accordingly.