self-mutilation/self abuse

Abuse isn't just child abuse or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Abuse can also be classified as abusing your body. Many teens are deliberately hurting or abusing themselves, which is also known as self-mutilation. Self-mutilation is the practice of cutting, burning or otherwise injuring one's own body. This afflicts as many as two million people in the U.S. alone. Researchers say that this isn't a sign of suicide but rather just a sacred secret. There are many types of self-mutilation but the most common is cutting or burning.

So why do people turn to self-mutilation? There are many explanations on why people abuse themselves, but there are only a few that are widely accepted. Abuse can lead to feelings of self-hatred, worthlessness, abandonment, and anger, so they may turn to self abuse as an outlet for their emotions. By cutting or burning themselves it might make them feel better and be able to deal with their emotions better. Another explanation is that some self mutilators report feeling like their life is being controlled by everyone but themselves. Cutting or burning is a way for them to express that they are still in control of something (the pain that they feel). Out of the teens who cut or burn themselves, the vast majority keep it a secret from everyone, even close friends. So self-mutilation isn't a sign of suicide but rather just a way people can deal with their emotions.