SELF-MUTILATORS
Why do mutilators cut or harm themselves?
• They cut themselves in order to relieve from emotional pain or stress.
• They did it as to transfer the pain they accounted from emotionally to physically.
When did it start?
• It can happen during their time in secondary school.
• Some started as early as primary school.
How did it occur to them to cut themselves?
• Curiosity?
• Influences? As in they seen other people done it, and so they would like to try it out.
• As they can't really express emotionally, they try a way to express how they feel, physically by cutting themselves.
They may know that by cutting themselves, that their problems will not be solved. They also did it could be that they thought there will not be anybody to help them. Unless, someone saw the scars and approach to help.
It may not be easy to help them to stop mutilating themselves, but it could be by going through a counseling session, they will be open up by the counselor on some options, so they will think for themselves, if mutilating is the best way to solve a problems, which is not?!
But mutilators know that they mutilate themselves is not the intention to die.
Yet, there are some been said that it is a ritual or practices for them to cut themselves? Or is it been a habit for them?
All the above is provided by miss faith goh siew lan, Head of counselling, ITE HQ
* Taken from The Straits Times 19/03/2007
Last month a group of 12-year-olds from an all-girls primary school made a collective pact and slashed their arms with penknives.
One 18 years old girl said that she cut herself out of curiosity after listening to songs by an ‘emo' rock band. And now, she cut herself weekly.
So does an 18 years old boy saying that it is a part of fashion.
**Cutting themselves is like a form of expression. Just like poets, who express themselves, by writing out their feelings or expression into poetry or poems.
We may think that those mutilators came from a dysfunctional family background, but it is shown that most of these angst-filled teens came from stable homes, where parents are professionals. But there are no issues that were really depressing.
Said Dr Carol Balhetchet, Singapore Children's Society, Director of Youth Services, “They should take to kids to find out the extend of it. They should not panic or scream at the child. They should be open to listening him/her out.”
“They will find it easier to persuade him to seek counseling for help.
What's more, cutting one does not make one feel better.