George and others,
At first I wanted to jump right in and pray, but I feel maybe I can help to answer some prayers already being said. At least, I can give you some solid information to work with.
There are so many doing this these days. Most of them are teen and pre-teen girls, and I'd venture that you know many of them already. You just didn't know they were doing this. The common term for this activity is "cutting" and if you do it, you're a "cutter." Speaking their language, and using these words, seems to be a powerful thing when talking with teens.
One kind isn't very serious, and are called "pretenders" or "pretend cutters." They may want to seem cool, or are affected by emotional music, but usually just want attention. Those are called "divas," "drama queens," or "attention hounds." Whatever their reason, they don't do it seriously. They use things like butter knives or pieces of plastic, and all you will probably see are tiny red lines or raised bits of skin.
The hardcore ones are real cutters. They use knives, glass, razors, and other things that really cut. They do NOT do it for attention, at least not more than once. These can be divided into two types - suicidal and non-suicidal, and they are too many of both types. Neither type does it for attention. The reason is usually overwhelming emotional trauma. The causes are as numerous as the kids doing it, and your daughter's reason will be unique. Some general categories are broken homes, abusive parents, abusive peer relationships, pressure to be too serious too soon when dating, feeling unable to live up to expectations, etc.
Hardcore cutters seem to be very poetical, and you can get more insight into cutting by looking into their minds through their poetry than any other way I know of. Here are some examples. I recommend you pray before, during, and after reading these. They aren't obscene or anything. I just know the people that read this forum, so take my advise. You'll thank me later.
http://allpoetry.com/tag/show/cutterBabylon, in the form of CBN (but they sort of conceal their identity here) has some useful information and resources. Like Bluzman's food kitchen, don't be shy to look for help there, too.
http://www.self-injury.org/But, the most important thing in this is your daughter, not some ministry's view of things. I hope that what I've shown you may help you out. Maybe it will give you an in to talk with her. Maybe that can be part of God's formula to make everything ok. In fact, I'll do more than hope. Now I feel it is time to pray.
Dear Father, please add my prayer to those of my brothers and sisters. Give George's daughter, and everyone in her circle of family and friends, Your mercy, comfort, and peace, so they can see that everything will be ok. We trust in You alone, Lord, because You alone are Good and Love. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Steven
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Topic: Very Concerned (Read 7473 times)