I hope this isnt a start of self mutilation
@shaggin (74988)
United States
March 4, 2016 8:19am CST
My daughter is 11 and in 6th grade. She told me this morning at Breakfast that she likes to poke herself with pins that the pain is fun. She told me that her friends and her do it at school.
Hearing this has me very nervous. I started self mutilating when I was about a year or two older then she is now. That is exactly how I started. I had a safety pin on my skin and I would poke myself in class if I got upset. It got worse over the years and I spent years cutting. It was very hard to stop.
I hope that this is just some silly phase she is going to go through and it won't turn into anything more. At least since I have been through this I will know to watch for warning signs.
8 people like this
5 responses
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
7 Mar 16
Thank you. I really hope this is just some passing phase. I feel like mine turned into was pretty extreme. I am sure most kids experiment with things like this without it turning into a bad a case as mine. I would hate to see her body scarred up like mine is. I am sure it bothered my parents as well. I remember my parents when they would see some of mine their eyes would fill up with tears.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
4 Mar 16
I agree. I don't think most kids who do things like this will go on and do what I did. It just scared me when she told me this. I told her that she could get disease if her friends and her are sharing pins. She said they don't do that. I told her it is a really bad idea to hurt herself that like and that it is called self mutilation. She is old enough that I think soon she will realize what all the scars on my arms are from.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
4 Mar 16
@mammots I have always just told my children the scars were from accidents. The underside of my arm is a long scar from when I was 4 and chasing my dog. I accidentally ran into the window and it broke cutting up my arm real bad. I needed a lot of stitches. I tell them of that story and they usually don't question any more. Eventually she will question more and then I guess I will have to tell her the truth :-/
1 person likes this
@HebrewGreekStudies (1646)
• Canada
9 Mar 16
As you said, hopefully not, but at least you are aware of warning signs and have insight into this-the best defense is understanding, knowledge, and being able to communicate with each other. I am very sorry to hear this, and yes, it must be a very scary thought for a parent to fear their child will do themselves harm.
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
9 Mar 16
I just have to hope that it is a passing phase that she will grow out of or get bored with. She locks the shocking factor of things she does and says. I can't say that I am glad to have gone through all that I have but it does make me understand it more so I can help my children if they ever go through the same or similar things.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
4 Mar 16
That is just scary. Nothing I ever did nor my sons. I hope this doesn't progress with her.
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
5 Mar 16
@shaggin Right many things are. Self mutilation can all be part of the whole depression things I would imagine which makes it genetic wouldn't you say?
