Teen cutting a sign of emotional distress
Learning coping skills can help, UCI Health psychiatrist says
April 10, 2014
IN THE NEWS: Many teens who cut, burn or repeatedly injure themselves are often trying to relieve stress or emotional pain, according to UCI Health psychiatrist Atur Turakhia.
“They are creating physical pain to numb the emotional pain after they get overwhelmed and don’t know what to do about it,” the medical director of the UCI Health inpatient adolescent psychiatry unit told the Orange County Register.
The reasons behind it can range from depression, physical and emotional abuse, alcohol and drug problems to sexual abuse.
“One thing we try to do, especially in our inpatient unit, is try to provide them with coping skills to relieve distress, such as drawing or talking,” Turakhia said. Patients who crave the painful feeling can use a rubber band to snap on their wrists when they feel like hurting themselves.
Read the Register article about teens and "cutting" ›
