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People who hurt themselves say shame, anger, and self-disgust propel them to do it. Once they've hurt themselves, they feel even more shame and self-disgust. Self-mutilating teenagers suffer from low self-esteem, and they do not have effective coping skills to deal with the unpleasant feelings confronting them. Insted of problem-solving, they turn their confusion and anger onto themselves. The self-injurious behavior confirms their low opinion of themselves and exposes them to more shame. They may regret what they've done and promise not to repeat the behavior. They often hide what they've done from others to spare themselves from others' negative reactions. Even years later, when many teens have outgrown their self-mutilation, they may be embarrassed for others to see what they once did to their bodies.
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Physical Consequences
CUTTING AND BURNING
The most obvious consequence of cutting yourself is bleeding to death. Teenagers don't engage in this behavior because they want to die; many are dealing with anger, lonliness, and other uncomfortable feelings. They cut themselves to feel physical pain that will overshadow their emotional pain. However, there's always the risk of cutting an artery and inadvertently bleeding to death. Another serious consequence is scarring. Cutting yourself until you bleed leaves a scar behind. The more cuts you make, the more scars will cover your arms and legs. Even superficial cuts will leave scars. Cuts made repeatedly in the same place will leave bigger and uglier scars. Scars do not fade away entirely. They are constant reminders of SI.
OVERDOSING
Some people SI by overdosing of drinking poison. Some overdoses are worse than others. Many chemicals burn the esophagus and stomach. And since chemicals are processed through the liver, an overdose damages the liver, as well as other body parts.
EATING DISORDERS
Eating disorders are concidered forms os SI. Anorexia causes damage through starvation. Bulimia wreaks havoc on the body from bingeing and purging. Purging means either forced vomiting or excessive use of laxatives to induce diarrhea.
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Efects Of Self-Mutilation On Others
We present ourselves in three different ways: by what we say, how we act, and how we look. People draw their first impressions from our symbolic communication, or how we look, and multiple scars that appear self-inflicted make a definite statement. Some people recoil in disgust. Others are shocked and just want to stay away from the self-mutilator because they don't know how to help. Some are angry and believe the victim is being manipulative, while others are scared to be around these people. Family and friends may react with concern at the first sign of SI. If the behavior continues despite their efforts to help out, they grow weary of the effort. They withdraw. Many people assume that a person is mentally disturbed or suicidal if she/he cuts on her/himself. It is difficult to deal with a self-mutilator, and most people find themselves unprepared to handle or understand this destructive behavior. |
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