We need help
August 24th 2007 07:15
If you ask the average young person to play a game of Word Association and you say ‘cutting’ chances are they will say ‘emo’.
In a gross example of misinformation, the musical genre of emotive hardcore (emo for short) has mistakenly become synonymous with self mutilation. However I am not here to tell you that emotive hardcore is simply the short, fast, loud beats of 1980’s hardcore with lyrics about everyday life- the article on Wikipedia <www.wikipedia.org> can tell you that. What I am here to address is the number of young persons that seem to be slashing themselves with broken glass, razors and pins as a direct reaction to a problem.
Some basic research conducted by yours truly returned the following answers to the question ‘why do you do it?’
Some say it relaxes them.
They are stressed or angry, and as the blood leaves the cut, it’s like it takes the emotion with it. If one were to look at this from a scholarly point of view, it could be said the blood letting has a cathartic effect on the inducer.
Another answer points to control issues.
There is a situation that the person cannot control. They feel trapped, voiceless or forced into a situation they don’t want to be in. They don’t see how they can have any power to change the situation, but they have the power to cut. Yes they are cutting, and therefore hurting themselves, but they are causing the hurt. They have the power and control to make something happen.
Clearly this isn’t a very comfortable or humourous topic by any standards, but neither is brushing it off as ‘emo’ and the persons involved as ‘attention seekers’. This, however, is what your average young person thinks of a self-mutilator and ‘emo’ is somewhat of a joke within conversation and myspace <www.myspace.com> photos.
Right now, pointing the finger of blame at the supposed cause of this insensitivity and misinformation will not alleviate the problem, so I’m not going to do it. What I am going to do in an attempt to combat these disturbing trends is post this blog entry in the hope of it being informative and provide links to help services (in Australia), should anyone reading this want a different means of coping with problems
Beyond Blue- the national depression initiative
www.beyondblue.com.au
Kids Help Line- for any persons under 18 with any problem
1800 55 1800
In a gross example of misinformation, the musical genre of emotive hardcore (emo for short) has mistakenly become synonymous with self mutilation. However I am not here to tell you that emotive hardcore is simply the short, fast, loud beats of 1980’s hardcore with lyrics about everyday life- the article on Wikipedia <www.wikipedia.org> can tell you that. What I am here to address is the number of young persons that seem to be slashing themselves with broken glass, razors and pins as a direct reaction to a problem.
Some basic research conducted by yours truly returned the following answers to the question ‘why do you do it?’
Some say it relaxes them.
They are stressed or angry, and as the blood leaves the cut, it’s like it takes the emotion with it. If one were to look at this from a scholarly point of view, it could be said the blood letting has a cathartic effect on the inducer.
Another answer points to control issues.
There is a situation that the person cannot control. They feel trapped, voiceless or forced into a situation they don’t want to be in. They don’t see how they can have any power to change the situation, but they have the power to cut. Yes they are cutting, and therefore hurting themselves, but they are causing the hurt. They have the power and control to make something happen.
Clearly this isn’t a very comfortable or humourous topic by any standards, but neither is brushing it off as ‘emo’ and the persons involved as ‘attention seekers’. This, however, is what your average young person thinks of a self-mutilator and ‘emo’ is somewhat of a joke within conversation and myspace <www.myspace.com> photos.
Right now, pointing the finger of blame at the supposed cause of this insensitivity and misinformation will not alleviate the problem, so I’m not going to do it. What I am going to do in an attempt to combat these disturbing trends is post this blog entry in the hope of it being informative and provide links to help services (in Australia), should anyone reading this want a different means of coping with problems
Beyond Blue- the national depression initiative
www.beyondblue.com.au
Kids Help Line- for any persons under 18 with any problem
1800 55 1800
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Comment by Chic Critique
Cheers
CC
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I write on this topic a lot, for the same reasons as you. Education is needed, understanding. Well done.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I can understand its relief, why it happens and why people do it. It is good to talk about in the hope of lowering stigmatisation.
Tracy
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Wynona Lavota
Generation Y Life
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
is a good resource for self-mutilators. It's worldwide, based out of the U.K. Also has many educational links.
Cutting is associated with emo now because cutting was, in previous generations, something that people were ashamed to admit to anyone. Nowadays there isn't such a stigma attached, and people are more open about it.
Cutting is a manifestation of depression caused by chemical imbalances of certain types of hormones in the brain. This condition is very common in younger people (age 12 through 25) obviously because the hormones are all in a boil when people enter their initial years of adult life..very common. In time, most peoples' hormones even out and the depression passes naturally.
There are many cutters on the depression forums site--sometimes it helps to know that you're not the only one suffering, and to talk to others who are in the same situation.
Really worth checking out...
Comment by Wynona Lavota
Generation Y Life
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
That's an excellent resource, I used to work with adolescents a few of whom would cut regularly and it can so easily be misunderstood. It is good to have factual, helpful and accessible information for those who self-harm and those who are close to them.
Tracy
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I just have one problem with group therapy....They're usually all crazy......
Sorry. Bad joke.