Parents: If your teen was cutting/self-injuring...?

Question

Would you want to know? How would you react? What do you think you would say? Would you be happy they told you?

Answer 1

I would definitely want to know, and honestly I would be happy that they told me. I wouldn't be happy that they are doing it and I would place them in hardcore counseling, but I would be glad that they trusted me enough to tell me and get help.

Answer 2

i'd slap it out of him/her

Answer 3

My sister was a cutter, and self injurer. She would burn herself with her straightener all the time.  Our mom was devastated when she found out, but she was happy that she was able to find out, and help her.  Our mom reacted upset, but I mean most reactions are gonna be for the most part the same. To find out your child is miserable and is hurting themselves, is upsetting.  I knew about my sister before my mom did, and I for one was upset about it, but I was glad she told me so we could get through it together.  I was with her when she told our mom for support. She told my mom that she needed help and that she has been depressed. At first our mom didn't buy into it until my sister showed our mom her wrist. It was really emotional. The initial reaction is gonna be disappointment, this is normal.  My mom was happy that she told her, because we were able to get her help, and we were able to get through it together. My sister now goes to therapy, actually all 3 of us do.  And she hasn't cut since!

Answer 4

you have to be careful how u handle this.

1st talk to them find out wat is bothering them. then see if they would like  to talk to u or someone else about this..

DONT FREAK OUT ON THEM  if you do they wont trust u with it at all. let them know u r there for them nomater wat..

tell them next time they want to do that to tell u and u can think of something to do like talk it out, or go for a jog...

Answer 5

I'd show them something to be really depressed about.

My kids are not whiny little selfish emo's.   They actually appreciate the things they have, and don't have a "poor poor me" attitude.

Answer 6

I'm a 14 yr old. I've done it, my sister's done it, my parents were devistated when they found out about my sister.

She got special help and it's helped alot.

I know you'd find it hard to hear from one such as me but honestly it's good to step down, not enough to seem oblivious but let them take their time. If this is just a random question then.... *grumble*

Answer 7

Yes I'd want to know.I would find out what the reason for it was and get them some help.I wouldn't be happy,I'd be upset but I'd be glad I found out so I could help them.

Answer 8

I wish my parents had known about it so that my depression could have been treated before it blew up in all our faces with a suicide attempt.  Yes I would want to know and I hope that I have the type of relationship with my kids so that they could tell me.  I would help with all I could and with all my heart.

Answer 9

I certainly wouldn't react the way my mother did when she found out I was doing it. She told me mental diseases aren't real, that's its just in my head and I said "well yea mom that's why they're called mental diseases" she told me to stop being a smart *** and when I was diagnosed with several disorders she just kept her mouth shut but honestly i don't believe any of that had to do with me cutting. I did it to feel alive, to know I could still feel and bleed. The pain releases some kind of chemical and it almost gives you the feeling of being high. I only did it about a dozen times throughout middle school and high school but I've also done it a few times as an adult.

If my children ever started doing it I would admit to them that I went through it too, I'd talk to them and find out what their reasoning for it is and try to help them.

Answer 10

I would definitely want to know so I could get them proper help. I would probably just hug them and let them know that they're safe now and that I would get them help. I would be glad that they told me before it got out of hand

Answer 11

My niece was doing this. I felt it was a way to get our attention. I honestly felt like she was unstable. I asked her after she cut herself did she feel better. She told me only for a little while. We took her to a psychologist, and it has helped.

Answer 12

Of course I would want to know.  As parents, our # 1 job is to protect our children and keep them safe. We can't do that job without some trust and communication from them.

If my child were to tell me she was doing this, I would be very sad.  But I would also tell her I love her more than ever and would help her do anything she had to in order to overcome whatever problems are causing her to do this.  I wouldn't be happy, I would just be grateful she trusted me enough to tell me.  If you're that teen, please tell your parents now.  

Answer 13

My 11 year old was hurting herself - she told me and I am so happy that she did. We got her help and she is doing very well. I always want to know everything that is going on in my kids lives - the good and bad. There are some situations that are just too overwhelming for a child to deal with on their own. Knowing what she was going through gave me the opportunity to be there for her, to reassure her, and to love her unconditionally.

And for the Mom who thinks all kids who cut are emo and "poor me" types - a lot of kids have mental disorders that lead to this sort of behavior - How fortunate you are to have the luxury of being so judgemental because you haven't had to deal with this sort of thing first hand, and therefore have no idea what you are talking about - ahhh ignorance is bliss isn't it???.

Answer 14

i will get my mom to answer this :)

heres my mom!

Would you want to know: Yeah. So I could help them.

How would you react: I wouldnt get angry at them. If they do it, they have a problem in their life.

What do you think you would say: Why would you do that?

Would you be happy thay told you: I wouldnt be happy about it in the first place!!

haha, my mom xD

Answer 15

maybe your teen has some serious issues. you need to have a serious talk. be calm and listen to what your teen has to say.  

Answer 16

As a mother of four, yes I would want to know and yes I would be happy if they confided in me. Cutting is a serious problem that needs immediate attention. Kids do not cut themselves for attention, they do it because they are going through emotional pain they don't know how to deal with. Sometimes they feel the physical pain is better than feeling alone, hurt and confused all the time. Teens that do this need counseling to help them deal with certain things in their life.