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My daughter has started cutting herself on purpose

Sent to Health Experts September 10 2006 at 10:02 AM
   

How do I make my daughter stop cutting herself without alienating her?

 

Optional Information:
Female , Age: 14

Already Tried:
nothing yet, I just found out .

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Status:  Closed   Value: $8
Answer
September 10 2006 at 10:07 AM (4 minutes and 26 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark

This is called self mutilation and I very strongly suggest that you get her into therapy as soon as you can. This is a very serious indication of mental health issue's that your not going to be able to handle on your own.

Self-injury soon becomes an addiction and extremely hard to stop. Cutting, burning, or performing any other number of harming acts upon the body relieves, very quickly, unbearable pain and also releases the body's own narcotics called the endogenous opiates. Just like with someone binging but not purging, prolonging a self-injurer from hurting themselves can cause them to experience symptoms such as agitation, paranoia, and irritability. Because of this, it is too hard in the beginning for any self-injurer to stop, at least immediately.

You need to read here and then go from there.

Again, you need to seek therapy for her as this can be serious. If I may further assist you please do not hesitate to reply.



Edited by 4ren6 on September 10 2006 at 10:10 AM

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September 10 2006 at 10:21 AM (14 minutes and 7 seconds later)
         
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September 10 2006 at 10:36 AM (14 minutes and 39 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Help me ... I need to know what kind of therapy I should look for to put her in. What kind of Doctor ? I dontknow what to do .
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September 10 2006 at 1:37 PM (3 hours and 1 minute and 34 seconds later)
         
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Ma'am I am sorry for the delay in getting back it is Sunday and I have been out. She needs to see a Licensed Psychologist in your area familiar with this. She can also see a Licensed Mental Health Therapist within your area for this as well. The point is you will have to get her to go to talk with them. They may also put her on medication as well. It may also benefit her to see that you go (whether needed or not) at the same time. This would help her to accept the fact that she needs to go if you were strong enough to go also. This would help in not alienating her. If she is at a point that she is dangerous to herself then you can have her "Baker Acted" which will provide her with at least 72 hrs of Mental Health Evaluation. This will be a legal move on your part though and may be seen as negative from her. Do no hesitate to do this if she is a danger to herself. The "Baker Act" only applies to US States and I am not aware of where you are. If you will let me know if your in the US then I can provide you with some possible locations for therapy and support. Let me know your location please.



Edited by 4ren6 on September 10 2006 at 1:53 PM

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September 10 2006 at 4:20 PM (2 hours and 42 minutes and 32 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Thank you so much for helping me ... we live in Greenville, Texas.Couldnt answer you back right away because we were at church.Please reply as soon as you can . She had just discovered that she likes it according to her diary entry the day before her first day of High School. That was August 20. Her entry for that day ( the last entry she has made) reads... Lord how can I stop when I like it???
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September 10 2006 at 4:21 PM (1 minute and 44 seconds later)
         
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Ok stay with me as I am online now...........Let me research your area and will post right back. ASAP Please be patient while I check for you.
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September 10 2006 at 4:24 PM (2 minutes and 32 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: I live in GREENVILLE, TEXAS U.S.A.
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September 10 2006 at 4:28 PM (3 minutes and 46 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Thank you ... i am staying right here .
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September 10 2006 at 4:31 PM (2 minutes and 48 seconds later)
         
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Ok, her latest entry in the diary worries me as this is showing the addictive behavior that this illness has. Read the info links above again.

For Texas. Again, if this is a immediate danger to herself have her baker acted. But hold off if not an immediate danger.

Texas NAMI can help you locate someone in your area to find a medical professional for you on this.

Go here: http://texas.nami.org/Affiliates.htm

http://www.usrecovery.info/Mental-Health-Organizations/Texas.htm

Presbyterian Hospital will also be able to provide good leads to Medical professionals to help her and you.

Please do get her into therapy and let me know if I may be of any further assistance on this. If you need me again just ask for me or reply.



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September 10 2006 at 4:34 PM (3 minutes and 51 seconds later)
         
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September 10 2006 at 4:35 PM (27 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: God Bless you ! I am taking your advice and contacting someone first thing in the morning. I do not believe she is a danger to herself at the moment but I dont want it to escalate into that.Thank you so much ... I dont know what I would have done without you.
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September 10 2006 at 4:38 PM (2 minutes and 59 seconds later)
         
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You may not want to let her know just now that your aware either of this. If she is aware of it then try to handle it as best you can until you can contact NAMI.

Take care and do ask for me without hesitation if needed again. Please take time to leave feedback. Thanks for trusting and using Just Answer.



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