What do I do About My 10yr old son cutting hisself?

Question

He is a really good kid And I dont know where he got it from but he was cutting his wrist today. I asked him about it and he said that he was mad? Im not sure what to say or do? He is A very smart child That never gets into trouble. It hurts that he would do that...I dont know what to do? He is really sensitive so you really have to watch what you say to him.....What do I do?

Answer 1

Get him in counseling...If you don't he may end up killing himself.  That is serious.

Answer 2

therapy!!!

he will become addicted to the feelings he gets when he does it if you don't make hI'm stop it!!

im surprised to hear of a little kid doing this, its becoming fairly common among teens these days.

Answer 3

HE NEEDS TO GET HELP NOW!

from a child psycoligist theripist shrink counsler what ever you call then, make an immidate call to his pediatrition, they can refer you to a good counsler appropriate for the situation.

i am an ex cutter, i used to do this in highschool, i felt dead inside, and the pain of cutting was the only thing that made me feel something.

mind you the reasons boys cut is gratley different then the the reasons girls do.

it is a cry for help, whether he knows it or not.

he needs to be seen by someone who can talk to him and not make him fee like it is his fault or guilty he is going or has done something wrong, and is being punished by going to talk to some strange adult.

ask him if he would like to talk to you about why he is angry and what made him angry.  ask him why it makes him want to cut himself.

i was not so fortunate, i wore long sleeves or turned my arm inward so the cuts couldn't bee seen.  i didn't have a mom or dad that really seem to notice or really care if they did, for me it did lead to a suicide attempt (a year later because the cutting stopped helping) and i got a little counsling (i ran away to do it) but i had a terrible counsler who made me feel stupid and little (like i had done something wrong, no one had know i had a suicide attmept, looking back that is scary, i just had a bunch of cuts on my wrists and she didn't even know about them (some counsler) after one visit she refused to see me or reffer me because to her i was just a brat because i wouldn't talk to her like she was a girlfriend (i physically and mentally shut down in her office) really she was great and my mom yelled at me because i wouldn't talk to her (really i had great adults in my life didn't?)

at any rate i continued cutting for another year year and a half.

and no one knew or cared (or so it seemed) untill one person whom i looked up to and i cared for (as a mentor/friend) saw the cuts grabbed me by the wrist turned my arm over looked at them looked me in the eye and said, don't do that anymore okay (and they way he said it and the way he made eye contact it felt like somone cared what was going on with me....and i stopped, i had maybe one or two instances after that, but i felt like i would be upsetting him if i did and i didn't want to upset or hurt anyone.

i was for the most part on my own and once i was out of school and had a license and a job i started doing a lot better.

and when i left home i kept getting better, now 8 years later i am happy and only have spouts of mild depression that last no more then a day or two(i mean really mild, and it is more like feeling down, and cosidered normal for a stressed adult) and i am still getting better they are few and farther between.

Answer 4

**HIMself**

Answer 5

THERAPY.  This is a disease.  Children do this when they feel they can't control something and have anger issues.  It will get worse.  Please seek professional help with this!!!!

Answer 6

He needs therapy.  Also are you aware you are asking this question in Toddlers&Preschoolers?  I don't remember my oldest daughter being a toddler or preschooler when she was 10 years old.

Answer 7

I used to do that, and although a lot of people do classify it as a disease or a mental disorder, it's simply a way to feel empowered in a world that is huge, confusing, and beyond our control. I did it when I was very angry or upset, instead of hitting a classmate, punching a wall, or screaming as loud as I could, which are other, similar reactions.

If he starts wearing them like a badge of honor or cutting deep enough to worry about severe blood loss, then it's time to take him to therapy. However, if they are only tiny, (if numerous) scratches, leave them alone for a while. He'll probably get over it or find more productive ways to get rid of his anger. Everyone I know did.

For the record, my parents found out once, and I attended a shrink weekly for 6 months. The Doctor and I had many chats. It was a fun experience, and when I was done, he pronounced that I had no problems and had been sane and mentally healthy the whole time.

Answer 8

He needs help and fast!  I would call your local crisis mental health service agency or bring him to the emergency room for an evaluation.  I think that he needs an inpatient program for atleast a couple weeks and then continuing therapy.  My stepson whom is fourteen was cutting himself back in January when he was thirteen.  He said that he did it once at lunch on accident and it felt good so he kept on doing it.  He ended up with more than fifty cuts up and down his arms.  He hid them from my husband, his school, and I by wearing long sleeved shirts.  It was winter so I did not think anything.  One night he told me and showed me the cuts.  He was in counselling already so I called his counsellor.  She told me to bring him to the Crisis intervention.  They did admit him to a child mental health unit in a hospital in my state.  They gave him medications and taught him coping mechanisms such as putting elastics around his wrists instead, writing, deep breathing and other things to calm down.  My step son had an abusive past before he came to live with my husband and I four years ago.  The poor kid went through ten years of h**l.  The situation is different, but your child is obviously depressed and really needs help quickly.  The therapists told me that children do this to relieve emotional pain that is trapped inside.  It actually does make them feel better.  Please get your son help now... call your local crisis intervention office and bring him to be evaluated.  One of these times he may cut himself in just the right place and die... I know that is not what you want to hear, but it is the truth.  I am scared for your son... please help him!

Answer 9

I think that you should maybe try talking it out, but if he doesn't want to, then just leave him alone. He probably needs his space and doesn't want people interrogating him. I've been cutting for quite a few months now, and when someone tries to talk about, I usually don't want to and get angry when they don't leave me alone. If it gets worse or doesn't go away after a few months... maybe try therapy. But that might not help.

Answer 10

best way is speaking with a sociologist

Answer 11

Cutting is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, and actually has many things in common with eating disorders.  I would definitely get him into counseling (but not necessarily on meds, don't rush to that!) to find out what is actually going on.  for yourself you might also want to do some research on cutting so you can understand it a little bit better.  It is not necessarily suicidal and often is a method of coping with some kind of pain an adolescent is experiencing.  it is NOT something you can just tell him to stop (just as an eating disorder in a female isn't).  I recommend the book "A Bright Red Scream" by Marilee Strong.  It really helped me learn how to better talk to my students who were cutting.

Answer 12

Cutting is a disorder that needs immediate attention. Sometimes when kids are depressed, angry, or feel like life is out of conrtol they turn to cutting as a release. They feel it is something they can control and is an unhealthy and dangerous stress reliever.

Please get your son help immediately. 10 years old is early to be dealing with such a serious problem. He needs counciling and possible medication. I understand it's hard to talk to him, but you are his parent and need to do what is best for him no matter what.