Medical Minute: Cutting and Self-Harming Behavior
Cutting is quite common among young adolescents, but the phenomenon is increasing among adults as well.
Cutting is defined as the most common form of self-injury. Cutters injure themselves with sharp or blunt instruments in order to feel physical pain which masks the internal, emotional pain they are feeling inside.
Most cutters are young females and teenage boys who suffer from depression or social anxiety. The cuts are usually superficial, just deep enough to draw blood, on areas such as the face, arms, chest, or abdomen.
Our culture’s current obsession with tattoos is also seen as a form of self-injury among the young. An example of a troubled celebrity who practices self-injury — disguised as self-expression — is singer Rihanna, who recently carved a crude cross into her neck (see photo above).
According to Psychcentral.com, “Self-injury is used by people — to drown out emotional pain with something else. In the case of self-injury, that something else is physical pain. It focuses your attention and takes your mind off of your emotional pain, if only for a little while.”
Self-harm is most common in adolescence and young adulthood, usually first appearing between the ages of 12 and 24.
Troubled young men like Lil Wayne go overboard with tattoos to feel intense pain in order to cover up their feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem and depression.
The most severe form of self-injurious behavior is committing suicide. The suicide rate is climbing among adolescents who see no other escape from their emotional pain.
According to a Newsweek article titled “Why She Cuts,” “self-injury isn’t recognized as a mental disorder by itself. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be treated. Treatment usually is done through psychotherapy, and focuses on helping the person identify their own triggers for self-injurious behavior, and find alternative methods for helping them deal with the emotional pain in their life.”
Most people believe that cutters cut themselves for attention, but this is not true in most cases. Some cutters are very self-conscious about their scars. They will conceal the scars under clothing or makeup.
Treatment includes years of therapy, and/or anti-psychotropic, anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications. Some patients require hospitalization to prevent them from seriously injuring or killing themselves.
If you know a friend or family member who is a cutter, encourage them to call the Georgia Counseling Helpline at (404) 237-7281.
This has been your Medical Minute.
More Info On The Web
Why Are So Many Girls Cutting Themselves – Psychologytoday.com
Cutting and Self Harm – Webmd.com
DISCLAIMER
Any medical information published on this blog is for your general information only and is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice. You should not take any action before consulting with your personal physician or a health care provider. Sandrarose.com and its affiliates cannot be held liable for any damages incurred by following advice found on this blog.
97 Responses to “Medical Minute: Cutting and Self-Harming Behavior”
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That ain’t no cut on Ri. That is a herp bump she popped from getting…a pearl necklace.
Heffa got herpes of the neck.
Uh oh.
ChocD you betta talk to her bout this
Thought that was a crucifix tattoo.
According to you, Rihanna just a bag of issues, huh? 
Hey folks
I think Ri just wants attention
no this bish didn’t
here you go sweetie
What the fukk is that on her collarbone?!
Yo- who the fukk does that?!
@LoveZoe
I have enough tats to know…that is NOT a damn tattoo, that is a puncture.
*Bernadette’s voice* “This muthafukka is psychotic!”
@loveZoe We still on baby watch I see *waves hey*
I didn’t read this post so…..
TGIF
did I do that right
i do like that “shhhh” tatoo
Sandra what happened to my medical minute on SORAS?
@Daisy- I had the baby last Saturday, a boy named Lucas.
@Zoe, I left you a message in the previous post
Thanks bew 
I hollered when I seen that from sandras twittah 
@Frenchie
*whispers* That really was her too
KDub says:
That ain’t no cut on Ri. That is a herp bump she popped from getting…a pearl necklace.
Heffa got herpes of the neck.
_____________
CD FENTY says:
Sandra she’s taken boo boo. We could care less about your countless, pointless stories about her she aint going nowhere so I advise u too keep it moving
Thank you 
———
OMGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
@Sassy- I don’t know, Rihanna just a free spirit I guess. Looks like something that deep hurt like heck.
I love piercings.
<—- POSSIBLY WANT ANOTHER TATTOO……
Mother Jefferson says:
CD FENTY says:
Sandra she’s taken boo boo. We could care less about your countless, pointless stories about her she aint going nowhere so I advise u too keep it moving
———
@iheart … your WWF name is cho… right?
The Makeup Maven says:
<—- POSSIBLY WANT ANOTHER TATTOO
________________
I want my first but I's scurred
@JMO, Yep
I sent you 2 messages
She is seeking attention and going overboard. I bet when she don’t see the papozzz around she freaks. Someone close to her should really try helping her before she turns into another tragic celeb who destroys their fame. She could be #1, if she wasn’t so obviously needy.
Let me go to the
because a lot of elationships will end ova the disrespect of my ole lady. 
I want my first but I’s scurred
————————————–
Borrow lil Illuminiqua’s wig and go in disguise in case you cry. That way…nobody will know its you at the tat parlor.
Dimpz tat is FLY than a mug!
<—is still a tat voygin
Mornin’ all!
I need to get some more tatts. Been dragging my feet.
Somebody get Rhi Rhi….
“Sit yo azz down… I told you I was gonna get you a whistle!”(Ricky Smiley grandma voice)
because a lot of elationships will end ova the disrespect of my ole lady.
—————————-
I’m sorry. I didn’t meant to talk about “Pearlie” like that. Saying she likes sperm around her neck and shat. I apologize.
Sandra I can picture you seeing a picture and doin some evil laugh when you come up with an idea for a story. You saw that cross and it just screamed Medical Minute huh?
Iheart says:
@JMO, Yep
I sent you 2 messages
_____________________________________________________
I just sent you a game request
<— smh
Oh and Good Morning Everyone!
KDub says:
I want my first but I’s scurred
————————————–
Borrow lil Illuminiqua’s wig and go in disguise in case you cry. That way…nobody will know its you at the tat parlor.
_____________
I just a punk. I figure if I can have a 8lb6oz baby,episiotomy,and 18 stitches afterwards I can handle a tattoo 
Good Idea
KDub says:
Sandra what happened to my medical minute on SORAS?
~~~~~
How is Billie(Lisa Rinna)back on Days Of Our Lives as Kate’s daughter. Billie is older than Kate.
@fayfay just sent you a WWF request
@iheart –
yousssssss on twizzler too??? what’s ya name 
oh and i need some WWF games going here
give up the names people
KDub
Anna says:
KDub says:
Sandra what happened to my medical minute on SORAS?
~~~~~
How is Billie(Lisa Rinna)back on Days Of Our Lives as Kate’s daughter. Billie is older than Kate.
_____________
Shut the front door
I usta love watching days back when she was on there 
shyt it's red
Anna says:
How is Billie(Lisa Rinna)back on Days Of Our Lives as Kate’s daughter. Billie is older than Kate.
____________________________________________________
Do they still have Kate tryin to look young on the show with blue hair?
I stopped watching a lil while ago.
I remember when kids did this years ago bc they couldnt get/afford tats……..so I guess this is the new trend
OMG, I think I just did the stupidest thing ever. This recruiter just called me from this job and she asked me what it a good time to talk and I told her no. Mind you, I was in the middle of checking out at Wal-Mart. (facepalms myself) Uhhhh
JMO says:
Iheart says:
@JMO, Yep I sent you 2 messages
_____________________________________________________
I don’t have any messages. You messaging someone else chile!
I just sent you a game request <— smh
_________________
I know it was you guhl cause we was talmbout naija being pretty good
Anywho 
SOOPA_STAH ill you 
@Anna…same way how I SAW Nicholas on Y & R being born one summer vacation and 3 summers later the fugga was running Victor’s company and had a wife and a kid.
Same with JR on AMC. Fugga I remma when you was born! How you older than me?
Red Ivy gonna be at Harvard next summer. WATCH.
@Tatted, so Ryleigh’s dad finally showed up, unannouced. My gma felt bad and let him in. I was in class so I missed the whole thang, my gma said Ryleigh called the whole time because she didn’t know him. :-/
lady_cn says:
Anna says:
How is Billie(Lisa Rinna)back on Days Of Our Lives as Kate’s daughter. Billie is older than Kate.
____________________________________________________
Do they still have Kate tryin to look young on the show with blue hair?
~~~~~~~
Yep, but it looks stupid them being mother and daughter.
“Someone close to her should really try helping her before she turns into another tragic celeb who destroys their fame.” I would like to see her mom more involved. I wonder what kind of relationship they had prior to fame.
Lakes
@ Ryan – OH SNAP!!! Really??? Gma just opened up the door, huh?! LOL Welp, that’s what he get and I hope he felt bad because his baby didn’t know him!
Jmo
lovezoe says:
@Daisy- I had the baby last Saturday, a boy named Lucas.
__________________
Congrats hun!
I need a Twittah name. Gimme something good from the Dikshanary.
KDub says:
Sandra what happened to my medical minute on SORAS?
_________________
I put it in the queue of Medical Minute requests. There’s a long list of requests that are ahead of yours.
@Tatted, yeah my gma used to be hardcore and she wouldn’t have opened the door. But she is softening up. But I was glad when she told me that Ryleigh didn’t want him holding her, my baby knows who she sees all the time who she doesn’t see all the time.
Hey Lakes, Blackswan, Anna, & Van
Brick City Born says:
You saw that cross and it just screamed Medical Minute huh?
________________
You’re right, but I hope that my Medical Minutes enlighten someone out there who might be experiencing the same problem.
@YSO
FUKWitMeIfYouWant
how about that?
too long
Sandra Rose says:
KDub says:
Sandra what happened to my medical minute on SORAS?
_________________
I put it in the queue of Medical Minute requests. There’s a long list of requests that are ahead of yours.
i aint gone neva quit u Auntie, NEVA i say! 
_____________
Congrats LoveZoe!
On your new
Little knucklhead huh! 
I bet he’s a cute lil’ button!
Hm…I’ll put it on the list.
SIS
Ryan – well good for you and the baby! His loss! I hate when men don’t realize how important it is to be in their children’s lives! I can’t for one second fathom bringing a life into this world and then NOT want to see them, be around them, hold them, love them…I JUST DON’T GET IT!
oh. so YSO aint like my twittanet suggesstion huh?
personally i think me & MIRS should get to pick it since WE the ones that campaigned so hard for this memorable occassion to occur & whatnot
*throws a single coconut*
Sandra, I think your posts on medical minutes are very informative
Do you play Words With Friends??
@Lovezoe
Congrats on the new bundle of trouble, love!
@FAYLA
YSoRatchetness is on the list. And I will at least me naming myself since I’m being bullied into getting the Twittah by y’all in the first place. HMPH!
I put it in the queue of Medical Minute requests. There’s a long list of requests that are ahead of yours
————————————–
And ahead of the ones you make up huh????
Next one after SORAS I would like is herpes of the neck.
@tatted, I say the same thing all the time. I look at Ryleigh and she’s so precious and happy and I’m like why wouldn’t you want to spend all your time with something like that. She is such a joy and it does my heart to know I played a part in her creation. Obviously, her dad doesn’t share the same feelings.
Congrats on the new rug monkey, Zoe
Hola ery’body
Yso
JMO says:
Sandra, I think your posts on medical minutes are very informative
Do you play Words With Friends??
_________________
Thanks! And, no, I don’t have an iPhone.
Lawdddddd please off yourself already Rihanna im so damn bored of you chit or get off the pot! Seriously I abhor you like i do the Kardashians! You SUCK so much and you think your so cool! NOT EVEN CLOSE! I
your other fans that idolize you see it my way you could hurt a lot of innocent by your attn whoring drug induced hazed blanked out mind!
GO AWAY!
KDub says:
I put it in the queue of Medical Minute requests. There’s a long list of requests that are ahead of yours
————————————–
And ahead of the ones you make up huh????
Next one after SORAS I would like is herpes of the neck.
__________________________________________________________
“in queue” lawdamercy!
Choco aka Hippie says:
Lawdddddd please off yourself already Rihanna im so damn bored of you chit or get off the pot! Seriously I abhor you like i do the Kardashians! You SUCK so much and you think your so cool! NOT EVEN CLOSE! I your other fans that idolize you see it my way you could hurt a lot of innocent by your attn whoring drug induced hazed blanked out mind!
GO AWAY!
______________
for one thing its a tattoo, not a “cut” and secondly its never a good idea to suggest tht anyone kill themselves. c’mon now Choco. youre better than that.
repeating a lie doesnt make it become the truth anymore than kissing a frog turns it into a prince.
bytch is cray.
SRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR COME OUT AND PLAY!
OH…well hello there Mrs Fenty
So Im here now and LOL at CD saying I was gonna go postal
CD, where you get that pic from? I swear that looks like a guy I dated…his ass is a fruitloop(not officially) that always posing with his ****zu and showing all his teeth.
Hey you guys
Eazy
Someone go tell them in the pee pee post we in here
Choco, ya’ll talking about pee pee again???
It went there it started with anal bead tossing salad and then the PEE PEE DUM DUM DUM
Hey French and Eazy
<— Eazy that's Ray J
ummmmmmmm ok now there is a new Obama post
Ah nah…ya’ll must be talking about pee pee on ppl
KDub, that was just dumb of you saying such a thing with No Evidence whatsoever! Must be talking ’bout YOURSELF. Stop being dumb. Enough of that in the world!
Lurking late… d/t work oh and telling my text buddies I went to bed and I can’t even tweet. Ugh. Stalkers
Sandra, I love your medical minutes. Especially people dealing with mental illness. It’s sad that mental illness has such a stigma thou. I won’t even waste my breath and compare mental illness vs physical illness. *Cues beating dead horse* RiRi’s been crying out for help for years now. Hopefully, her inner circle will encourage her to get professional counseling and obtain better coping skills, unless she has shady friends, like Whitney surrounded with enablers and sellouts (Coughs) Pat. Hate to see another celebrity fall apart & waste their talent…While we regulars folks witness it daily, people in Hollyweird don’t care because there too busy looking for the next “IT” girl.
Hopefully, work is slow & I can log on tomo. Nite