self harming

Young and older people who self harm don’t do it in the belief it will resolve their problems. They do it to release emotional pain.

My daughter self harmed, not a youngster, she did it because of her emotional pain , the pain of cuts eased the deep emotional pain

I had a friend at school,in the 6th form, in the 1960s who I think had anorexia though I had never heard of it then. She was very attractive, academic and sporty and ended up being Head Girl. She was very keen on being fit which she took to extremes. I remember gping on a pucnic with her when she ate and apple and a few bits of salad and refused to share my fruitcake as it 'is bad for you' - I could not understand that at the time (being healthy and slim myself with a good appetite!) She gor thinner and thinner and her periods stopped -she told me she wanted to remain a child. She eventually was so ill she was off s hool and the doctor told her she would die if she didn5t eat. I was very worried. She must have recovered as she did come back to school and take her A levels then went off to do VSO somewhere (she was also keen to save the world.) I heard she met someone and got married but I lost touch with her.

Sorry about typos!

Polly - I recognise that picture of anorexia.
"she wanted to remain a child". I've heard that explanation too.
And it rings bells with me - I wore a too-small bra to flatten my bust. and a rollon to flatten my bottom.
I think this was my mother's idea though.

My daughter self harmed for several years but tried to hide it.

A counsellor at the time said the cutting was equivalent to a man getting angry and smashing his fist into a wall. It releases the tension.

Her GP showed her where to cut so she wouldn't do any permanent damage. i.e. top of her arms rather than her wrists.

They weren't condoning what she did , they did try to help her stop but she needed to do it to release the anxiety and depression she was suffering.

GabriellaG.. It's not fair to blame the parents ... I would have done anything to help her, but I'll always feel like I failed her.

kathsue don't blame yourself. I'm just beginning to realise the stress that adolescence had on me. Not my mother's fault.
I wonder if adolescents in other countries have the same problems?

I suppose in third world countries, adolescents have different problems Fennel.