Self Injury For Many Of Our Individuals example essay topic

Youth Culture Stats and Trends: 1) Underage Drinking The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University released a status report on underage drinking in the U.S. web See also: "Newer generations slower to curb alcohol use" web See also: 'Power Hour' drinking game ritual web See also: Drinking increases injury / death risk web Releases/2005/Chen drinking. html See also: CPYU article, "Beer-Normal and Fun?" web 2) Teen Driver Deaths USA Today examines teen driver risks, crashes, injuries and deaths. web cover 01. art. htm web 02. art. htm See also: 'Pocket bike' injuries and risk web scooters 15. art. htm See also: All-terrain vehicle accidents among youth web (free abstract) See also: Cell phone drivers web web (5 page pdf file) 3) Cell Phones and Teens Teen Research Unlimited, as reported by USA Today, says 35% of 12-15 year-olds, 58% of 16-17 year-olds, and 62% of 18-19 year-olds had a cell phone in 2004 (17%, 28% and 37%, respectively, in 2000). web cellphone 09. art. htm See also: 44% of 10-18 year-olds own a cell phone. web item&key = 151 See also: 180.5 million cell phone users web wireless 14. art. htm See also: CPYU article about teen and cell phones web See also: Text Messaging stats web release. asp? r = 994) Truth (R) and Smoking The American Legacy Foundation reports that there were 300,000 fewer youth smoker between 2000 and 2002 as a result of the truth (R) media campaign. web user object&Mode = user&Module ID = ad 3 a 024 a-b 2d 6-4593-874 f-9 b 66136 bc 614 See also: Smoking and suicide risk web See also: Parents who quit smoking influence their children too web smoking. html See also: Many Mississippi student athletes and coaches use tobacco web 01 B 343095 RTRIDST 0 HEALTH-TOBACCO-ATHLETES-DC. XML 5) Media Multi-Tasking The Kaiser Family Foundation reports on the pervasiveness of media in the lives of teens from a survey of 2000+ 3rd-12th graders. Overall, teens are exposed to 8: 33 hours of media per day, often "multi-tasking". Also, in their bedrooms, 68% report having a TV set, 49% have a video game player, 54% have a VCR or DVD player, 31% have a computer, and 20% have Internet access. web See also: New video game rating category web See also: Christian media use beats out church attendance web 6) Teen In-Room Media The Gallup Tuesday Briefing reports that 64% of teens (70% boys and 58% girls) have a TV in their room, and 28% have their own Internet access computers in their room from a survey of 1,028 U.S. teens conducted between January and February 2005. Boys average 15 hours of TV viewing per week compared to 12 hours for girls. web (fee to access) See also: Top TV for teens web 02. art. htm See also: Online bullies web cover 07. art. htm See also: Teen girl magazines web id = 2947) Teen Favorite Movies in 2004 A Gallup Youth Survey conducted on 1,028 teens (age 13-17) between January and February 2005 reports the favorite movies for teens in 2004. Napoleon Dynamite was the top movie followed by Spider-Man 2, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Shrek 2, The Grudge and Dodgeball. web (fee to access) See also: Healthy U.S. film industry web See also: "Family flicks outperform R-rated titles" web See also: Winners from the 77th Annual Academy Awards web 8) Sexy SurveyElleGirl (April 2005 edition, pp. 87-91) reports the results of an Internet survey of 14,183 13-20 years old youth (94% female) about what is sexy.

Some of the findings: 70% of girls have had their first kiss (30% before 13, 47% were 13-15 years old, 18% were 15-17 year old) 70% of girls said they are virgins 4% of non-virgin girls report "losing" their virginity before age 13 (22% between 13-15 years old, 39% between 15-17, and 35% were 18 or older). 19% of girls said they met with someone in person only once whom they chatted with online 49% of girls and 34% of guys think tattoos are sexy Girls said the sexiest guys on TV were: Adam Brody, Chad Michael Murray, Ashton Kutcher, Gregory Smith, and Xzibit. Girls said the sexiest guys in music are: Usher, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, Justin Timberlake, the Strokes, Eminem, and Jay-Z 9) Teen Birth RatesChildTrends reports, from preliminary date from the National Center for Health Statistics, that there were 6,665 births in the U.S. during 2003 for girls under 15 years of age (down from a peak of 12,242 in 1995), 134,617 for 15-17 year-olds, and 280,344 for 18-19 year-olds. web press release page. cf m? LID = 147 C 4 B 58-F 8 B 1-4 E 7 D-80 FFD 35154798 D 30 web 2005. pdf (6 page pdf file) CPYU Resources: To order resources from CPYU visit our "Resource Center" at web or call 800-807-CPYU (2798). All suggested donations include shipping and handling. Newsletter: "YouthCulture @ Today" is the Center for Parent / Youth Understanding's 24-page, ad-free, quarterly newsletter that is full of up-to-date information and in-depth analysis on today's youth culture.

The JUST-released Spring 2005 edition features analysis of hip-hop artist Kanye West and much more. "YouthCulture @ Today" is available for a suggested donation of $20 for one year (4 issues). To order your copy go to web or give us a call at 800-807-CPYU (2798)". How to use your HEAD to guard your HEART: a 3-D Guide to making responsible music choices" This colorful 12 page booklet is one of our most popular resources.

The "3-D Guide" walks you through the 3-Ds of "Discover,"Discern", and "Decide" as you listen to today's popular music and media. The "3-D Guide" will help you to "mindfully critique" media and not "mindlessly consume" it. This is a great tool to use in youth meetings as you discuss with your teens how to "think Christianly" and make wise media choices. The suggested donation is $2.00 each for 1-5 copies or $1.00 each for 6 or more copies! Seminars: Walt Mueller is available to speak at your church, school or organization. Walt's 'Understanding Today's Youth Culture's emin ars are designed for parents, youth workers, teachers and others dealing with the specific challenges associated with understanding the world of pre-teens and adolescents.

To book a seminar, go to web and / or contact CPYU at 800-807-CPYU (2798). Pop Culture Quotes "He didn't do anything for my career except go out and not come home at night. So I don't think he deserves anything. He doesn't even deserve my respect".

- Actress / singer Lindsay Lohan speaking about her father, ABCNews. com, March 3, 2005 web "The kids in the play would learn to forgive their parents, but I hadn't learned to forgive my father. My own words would come back to haunt me. Once things changed in me, the word became more alive". - Playwright / actor /screenwriter Tyler Perry, USA Today, March 2, 2005, 10 D". I think that's more of a concern to white Americans.

They " re more concerned about having your mother and father at the same time. It's so common to be in a broken home where I'm from". - Rapper 50 Cent answering if he has ever met his father, Blender, April 2005, p. 69". The healing process between a father and a daughter is delicate and takes time. For me it is a process that is still underway, but it began because I was tired of always being upset when I thought about my father. I was tired of holding onto this big cloud of pain and unanswered questions inside...

I had to come to a place where I could let go. That doesn't mean forget. It just means you begin to let it go". - R&B singer Alicia Keys (Alicia Aug ello Cook), Seventeen, April 2005, p. 139". If you go through some of my albums, you " ll see exactly what was going on in my life at that time. It's really an open book.

You don't have to go through my garbage or follow me around. You can just listen to my music". - Actress / singer Jennifer Lopez, Blender, April 2005, p. 80". I write songs as part of my life.

I don't write songs to put them on albums. I make albums out of necessity". - Arcade Fire guitarist / singer Win Butler, Rolling Stone, March 10, 2005, p. 60". I write my feelings, so if there's something that's on my mind, like someone else's actions, I write about it". - Rapper 50 Cent, Vibe, April 2005, p. 116". They tried to kick me out of elementary school because I brought Hennessy to school in fourth grade.

I had kids drinking Capri Sun and Hennessy". - Rapper The Game (Jayceon Taylor), Rolling Stone, March 10, 2005, p. 82". At the time, everybody I knew was getting filthy rich in the crack game... But there was a moral conflict for me. I wanted to be a rapper, and something inside told me selling drugs wasn't the way to go". - MTV News's way Calloway, Seventeen, April 2005, p. 178".

I've been clean for almost three years now. I don't do caffeine or nicotine or anything, except smoke pot". - Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Rolling Stone, March 10, 2005, p. 52". Drinking is not my thing and I have always kept away from drugs. I know how that affects you, and I don't want to die. People have done it around me, but I'll always keep away from things like that".

- Singer / actress Christina Milian, CosmoGirl, April 2005, p. 161". I just know if I did drink or smoke, I'd totally lose control of my career. Because a lot of the time when you " re drunk and high, you put out anything". - Outkast's Andre 3000, Seventeen, March 2005, p. 162". It's a vicious circle. I needed it to function but it made me want to kill myself.

It made me extremely unpredictable and dangerous to myself". - My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way speaking about alcohol, Blender, April 2005, p. 92". I'm still buying pot... I've spent a fortune on drugs, it has to be a few million dollars. We were doing drugs to get near the music, but the drugs got in the way of the music". - Veteran rocker Billy Idol, Blender, April 2005, p. 152".

I don't believe steroids can help you, help hand-eye coordination, technically hit a baseball". - Major-league baseball player Barry Bonds, Time, March 7, 2005, p. 17". I know it's something I shouldn't be doing, and it's not something I'm proud of at all. I know it's bad and I'm trying to stop. I realize that what I do, a lot of kids will do. There's no doubt that I'm sending the wrong message.

' - Major-league baseball pitcher Curt Schilling speaking about his chewing tobacco habit, USA Today, March 8, 2005. web x. htm "I remember watching a father cursing our players right in front of his son, and it wasn't long before his son was doing it. - NBA coach Larry Bird, GQ, February 2005, p. 86". There's no way I'm going to go on TV to promote teen sex. I'm also not going to promote abstinence". - Actress Emily Van Camp (WB's Everwood), Spin, March 2005, p. 36".

It's just people's ignorance to think that love has to come with a certain physicality or age or anything other than just honesty and truth. How many guys are out there that are forty something dating twenty something girls that nobody says a damn thing about?"All these instant gratifications that we think make us happy are actually the things that kill us. And all the things that we don't want to do are the things that are good for us". - Actor Ashton Kutcher (27) commenting about his relationship with Demi Moore (42) and about cigarettes, USA Today, March 16, 2005, 1 D. web cover 16. art. htm "I don't date, because any lady I'm with right now would feel neglected. So I just hang out with women who want the same thing I want". - Rapper 50 Cent, Vibe, April 2005, p. 120".

If you don't show actual violence and [let] the audience provide their own violence, it's much more gruesome". - Actor Morgan Freeman commenting about the movie Seven, Look, Spring 2005, p. 32". He said he thought that I was an angel sent from God. And that I was his sister and he was my brother in Christ. And that he was lost and God led him right to me to tell him that he had hurt a lot of people. And the families - the people - to let him know how they felt, because I had gone through it myself".

- Ashley Smith, hostage of courtroom shooting suspect Brian Nichols, who read excerpts from "The Purpose-Driven Life" in persuading her captor to surrender. web web "Growing up, there were just a lot of dark things that I was angry about. That stuff started to build up inside of me. And when you hold it in, that's when you start to get into trouble-and that's what I did. I was trying to do the right thing all the time and I felt like it wasn't getting recognized. I felt like I could get attention by acting out and that then maybe somebody would listen to me".

- Actor Ashton Kutcher, Teen People, April 2005, p. 100". As a teenager, I didn't like to look in mirrors. I'd put collages and stuff over them; left the lights off in the bathroom. Those are the years when I feel like you hate yourself or love yourself". - Actress Christina Ricci, Teen Vogue, April 2005, p. 102". When I was a teenager, there were times when I felt insecure about my looks...

At some point it dawned on me that this is the body God gave me and I have to love and appreciate it". - Tennis player Serena Williams, CosmoGirl, April 2005, p. 112". The day that I got chosen for the squad, I came to school and the gates of heaven opened. Everyone's opinion of me changed overnight. And it's sad. I started conforming and got really preppy".

- Actress Sandra Bullock speaking about becoming a cheerleader in high school, Teen People, April 2005, p. 58". It made all of us-my mom and my sister and me-more spiritual too. We got down on our knees to pray for opportunities. Not for money or success. Just for opportunities".

- Singer / actress Christina Milian speaking about her parent's divorce, CosmoGirl, April 2005, p. 161". Yes, I pray. All the time. I pray for peace and guidance, and to always keep my feet on the ground and be a good person". - Actress / singer Jennifer Lopez, CosmoGirl, April 2005, p. 131.

See also: Liner note "thanks" from Jennifer Lopez's Rebirth album read, "First of all I would like to thank God, the guiding force in my life."I think there's a tension between my music and my upbringing. When I was a kid, my parents said I should never do any secular music, period. I am relatively a straight arrow, and I'm a relatively good person. But I watch porn, I have infidelity issues-all of those things I talk about in my songs are real to me. But I also have a romantic side and a spiritual side. I don't think they " re incompatible".

- R&B singer John Legend, Vibe, April 2005, p. 144". Whenever I'm confused, I ask God to reveal the answers to my questions, and He does. That's how we found our [band] name-we opened up the Bible, and the word destiny was right there" - Destiny's Child Beyonce Knowles, Seventeen, April 2005, p. 108". There is a thing called God or Nature or the Universe or whatever the f -- -, yeah. Something must be happening for a reason". - Veteran rocker Ozzy Osbourne answering if someone is watching over him, Spin, March 2005, p. 18".

I have spent a lot of time studying religions of the world, and when you break them down, to me, they " re all saying the same thing-it all comes down to love". - Shanna Moakler (Meet the Barkers), Seventeen, April 2005, p. 108". When I first wrote it, [Center Street] called and said, 'We need 80% of the Christian content to come out of it. ' Because it's about love, I was O.K. with that. It's really about love that doesn't fail, and that's a 1 Corinthian 13 message". - Christian romance author Karen Kingsbury, who was signed by Time Inc. affiliate publisher Center Street, speaking about her book A Thousand Tomorrows, Time, March 14, 2005, p. 63".

I'm a spiritual person and a religious person. But for me, it's all a personal thing. I'm not someone who " ll say, 'This is what I believe, and you should too!' It's more of an internal, quiet, grounded fulfilling thing for me". - Actress / singer Mandy Moore, Seventeen, April 2005, p. 108".

This album is about love, life, God, death and sex". - Dave Matthews speaking about his band's next album, Rolling Stone, March 10, 2005, p. 39". It's safe to say I'm agnostic. I think it's very ignorant to say, 'God has a plan. ' That's like an excuse". - Dave Matthews, Seventeen, April 2005, p. 108.

See also: CPYU feature article about the Dave Matthews Band web "On my left forearm I got one that says, 'God understands me. ' In my position, you gonna be misinterpreted. That's why I put it there". - Rapper 50 Cent describing one of his favorite tattoos, Blender, April 2005, p. 66. See also: CPYU feature article on the life, music and message of 50 Cent web "Faith influences my life 100 percent. Like when I'm writing songs-I don't know where it's coming from, and I know it couldn't be me.

So at that point I'm pretty much a medium that something else is speaking through". - Outkast's Andre 3000, Seventeen, April 2005, p. 108. See also: CPYU feature article about Outkast web "My songs are God saying things to me, him talking to people. He's going to use me to heal people and people are going to be drawn to it, just watch, they will be". - Former Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch who left the band and became a Christian, Associated Press, March 6, 2005. Self-Injury: A Growing Epidemic Problem by K.R. Juzwin, Psy. D. There is a growing awareness of people who engage in self-injurious behaviors (SIB), although it is not a new problem.

Recently, self-injury as a pattern of behavior in children and teens is receiving more attention. People are recognizing it, talking about it and seeking help for this problem, and it is gathering more attention in the media. The focus of this brief article is to provide general information about this problem related to teenagers. Also, to help people recognize what the problem is, and to help explain what the course of treatment and management involves. This article is designed to briefly introduce important concepts about the problems involving self-injury, but is not designed to take the place of treatment or answer specific case related questions. General Information about Teens and Self-Injury The term 'self-injury' refers to a number of behaviors that involve intentional self-directed and self-inflicted harm to one's body.

When we look for the reason to explain why anybody would engage in this behavior, it is hard to understand initially. It is not a behavior that occurs alone, there is almost always some other larger problem or problems the individual is dealing with as well. Those problems range from social and age appropriate developmental problems to serious psychiatric problems. It is not uncommon to see a cluster of other problems present as well. It isn't often though, that people make the connection between the behaviors and problems until the connection is pointed out in therapy. It appears that cutting is the most frequently reported self-injurious behavior.

There are a variety of types of injury that people engage in, including; burning, skin picking, pinching, abrasion of skin to injecting compounds, ingestion of nonfood items, breaking bones, and drawing blood. These injuries can range from very superficial to very serious and potentially life-threatening. Self-injury can be impulsive, occurring almost without thought or observable provocation. It can also be ritualized and prolonged. Sometimes people will dissociate, or lose conscious contact with the present ('check out') when they are engaging in this behavior. Patterns of self-injury tend to be specific to the individual, as are the specific body locations where each individual tends to injure.

The most common area tends to be on the forearm. Other locations can be on the thigh, calves, or around the ankles. As these areas may or may not be covered by clothing it may not be possible to see them. Other times people will injure on inner thighs, abdomen or breasts. Most times, self-injurious behaviors are private solitary activities. However, there is an increase in groups of teens gathering to engage in 'cutting clubs.

' Self-injury is not a new problem for clinicians who treat people seeking help for emotional health related problems. In a treatment setting, this problem is generally seen as one part of a larger group of problems. For example, it is not uncommon to see an individual with problems related to depression, eating disorders, anxiety related problems, substance abuse, and / or trauma backgrounds, who also present with self-injury. Often, these individuals will rotate through various types and severity of symptom presentation. This means that sometimes they experience serious depression and substance abuse problems, and then at others, body image or eating disordered related problems. Other problems can include anxiety, school phobia or refusal.

At the far extreme, some individuals experience psychosis, or lack of contact with reality intermittently as part of the entire cluster of symptoms they experience. In the hospital setting, both inpatient and outpatient day treatment settings, self-injury has become a primary reason for referral to the hospital or therapist for treatment. It is important to note that self-injury, while being the reason many people will seek treatment, is never a problem that happens without other problems being present as well. So it is not uncommon that people seek treatment for any number of problems. Once self-injury is discovered, it should never be minimized as the seriousness needs to be assessed. Further, when this problem is identified to happen in a school setting, most schools see this as an urgent problem.

Part of this problem is because of their concern over someone engaging in self-destructive behavior that could be dangerous. Another concern is the contagion effect, which is an effect that just by awareness of something, it becomes more prevalent. Kids teach each other things, good and bad. Most kids upon hearing about this behavior will be less than enthusiastic about it, but for others, it will become something to consider as an outlet.

It appears to be following the same patterns as the spread of eating disorders, atypical dieting, sexual experimentation and substance abuse. And, for some of these kids, it becomes a forum for cohesion, where kids are now forming 'cutting clubs' that may or may not have a plan for at least one suicide. Self-injury and Suicide Self-injury serves a purpose that is difficult to understand. The one reported most frequently by our individuals is that it is a way to stay alive, to cope, to manage or to relieve stress or tension. Other reasons include to numb down, to quiet down, to control, or to 'check out. ' Some people use it to punish themselves before someone else does, as in the case of abuse.

Self-injury for many of our individuals has become a habitual way to manage. It is important to recognize that self-injurious behavior or thinking is different than the thinking that is associated with a suicidal act, where the intention is to escape or die. Self-injury is used as a way to stay alive and manage staying alive and the demands that go with that life. That's not to say that many of our individuals aren't also at risk for suicide, it's just a different part of the problem. However, many of these individuals will report that they often 'feel suicidal. ' It is important to recognize that these individual's are feeling overwhelmed, lack a language to talk about their internal experience and are maxed out related to their ability to manage.

Sometimes families feel overwhelmed with the demands of children who are at this extreme. Sometimes they feel manipulated and frustrated by these patterns. No matter what happens, these statements are never 'just for attention. ' Besides, it is healthy, developmentally appropriate and necessary to give our kids attention.

Defining Who and Why The problem of self-injury is not confined to any one demographic, ethnic or socioeconomic group. Although women / girls seek treatment more frequently and for different problems than do men / boys, self-injury appears to not be selective with who engages in it. In treatment settings, we tend to see more teenage girls than boys seeking treatment for primary self-injury. Many of our males though, tend to be in treatment because of behavior disorder related or substance abuse problems.

Both sexes tend to use cutting as the most frequent form of self-injury, followed by burning or scratching. We have seen that many of our individuals began harming themselves when they were as young as eight or nine, but often did not receive treatment until they were 13 or older. It is important to note that a history of trauma (significant loss, physical, sexual, emotional abuse) is seen in a portion of these individuals, but not all. Additionally, it is important to understand what the individual perceives as significant, not just impose a judgment. Self-injury may lessen and worsen depending on the particular struggle the individual is having with overall managing daily life and the problems in it. When someone is using self-injurious behavior to manage, it is important to see this as a sign that the person has maxed out their capacity to manage and cope in healthier ways.

Sometimes people don't possess the vocabulary or conceptual abilities to be able to talk about their experiences. The cluster of problems we see break down roughly into several different patterns. One cluster of problems includes anxiety and school phobia, where the self-injury serves to help manage to escape the anxiety. Often self-injurious behavior helps the individual get out of situations that frighten them, like school. Helping these children get back into school is an especially difficult experience with these children, families and schools. Another cluster is the over-achieving kid, the 'perfect' or 'all around great' kid by outward standards.

Often, as this facade becomes exposed, we have a great kid who has such extraordinary standards placed on them by themselves and by others. These kids often fall apart silently and in private. Parents of these kids are often surprised to learn their kids have problems because they appear so together and capable of managing everything. The difficult thing is that these kids work hard on never disappointing or displeasing anybody or anything. There may also be problems with anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and sexual promiscuity, as well as self-injury. Their families often struggle with getting their kid back to 'normal,' when in reality the drive for 'normal' was equated with being perfect, and was part of the problem.

Often these kids have responsibilities and privileges beyond what is age appropriate. One group of teens that we also see referred from schools, are those kids who have serious behavioral problems, where self-injury is one way they manage their anger, frustration and confusion. Often these kids have trouble fitting in, disregard rules and authority. It is not uncommon to see that they have little support outside of the hospital, both at school and within their families. They may have problems with the law. They may identify themselves with very negative peer groups.

We have seen teens that come into for treatment presenting with self-injury who are also at a point where they are beginning to de compensate into a very serious mental health problem. The self-injury may be sporadic, but serious. Substance abuse may or may not be seen in this situation. When physicians ask about history of mental illness, it is partly because many of these serious disorders have a genetic or biological component, and relating that information to your doctor becomes extremely important in helping to manage the illness early on. Many of our kids have come from backgrounds that have been chaotic, abusive or traumatic. It is important to note that not all children from abusive backgrounds injure themselves.

Many of our kids come from homes where parents did not parent with regards to what the child needed at each phase of his or her development. That may be a very unpopular statement. Most parents genuinely work hard at raising their kids the best they can. And, parenting is certainly not easy.

Unfortunately many family patterns or household patterns end up being harmful to those in it, especially for the children who grow up in them. Many parents are unaware of how they family dynamics or patterns affect the people living in them. Remember, children are great observers, but lousy interpreters, so one is never certain of the sense they make of things. Most often though, children blame themselves for the 'bad' things, and don't hold people accountable or responsible because they aren't in a position to do so. Don't underestimate the role that family and society has in contributing to the development and maintenance of these problems and as well as in the recovery process. Early trauma, stress, or chaos in a child's life changes their brain development and physiology related to interacting with the world.

Self-injury and atypical eating become two ways of managing the internal intensity these individuals experience. Social and Family Contributions The commonality all of these individuals is that they are developing human beings. When you look at the developmental demands of adolescence, there is an emphasis on developing a sense of who you are in relation to your peers and society, but generally against your family of origin. Few people feel like they fit in anywhere during this time. Groups form around common ideas, values, feelings, or attitudes.

The group allows one to fit in. We also know that brain and physiological changes are occurring, especially in the part of the brain that drives emotional regulation. So when we say our teens 'don't think rationally' at times that may be true. Add to that a very limited experience reference base, poor frustration tolerance and desire for immediate gratification and it's quite a lot to manage. Generalized social standards, dictated through magazines, movies, television, advertisements and music, are aimed at generating income for those who produce them.

Unfortunately, our reactions tend to not see this as consumer options being presented to us which we could accept or discard. Often these blitz of images comes to define what is right, wrong, in or out, and what we should strive to be. Our generalized society has an adolescent mentality, and many of us as adults have bought into it as well. While this may seem to be an interesting and controversial statement to make in the scope of this article, it serves a purpose.

People who have internal ways of tolerating self-definition, self-management, and frustration tolerance in healthy ways, tend to not to be so dependent on these perceived external demands. When people have reasonable and consistent standards and limits, with reasonable consequences and rewards that are age and developmentally appropriate things are different. They may argue with their parents, which is age appropriate. Parents need to tolerate their kids' frustration, and help them learn to live with disappointment, frustration and delay of gratification.

Parents who help their kids learn to problem solve, help their kids move away from self-destructive options. What is needed is that parents have the expectations that the kid will behave in healthy and nondestructive ways. Parents also need to realize that their children need them to place limits and expectations on them and hold them accountable to those. Further, parents need to set the same expectations for their kids related to being healthy and accountable. Privileges are earned, not given. Responsibilities must be age and developmentally appropriate.

The kid should have something to work towards attaining. The family needs to function with adult and child roles. Conclusion Self-injury is both a trend behavior and a problematic symptom of a larger picture. If you know someone who is engaging in this behavior, please direct the individual to the appropriate health care provider. Don't minimize the problem, or let them.

When someone is using this behavior, it is serious. If you are a parent, this is an opportunity to help your child manage something bigger than they can manage alone. K.R. Juzwin is the Director of Self-Injury Recovery Services, SIRS Program, Alexi an Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, Hoffman Estates, Illinois and an Assistant Professor at Argosy University / IS PP-Schaumburg The Center for Parent / Youth Understanding grants permission for this article to be copied in its entirety, provided the copies are distributed free of charge and the copies indicate the source as the Center for Parent / Youth Understanding. Permission for reprint must also be received from the author of the article. For more information on resources to help you understand today's rapidly changing youth culture, contact the Center for Parent / Youth Understanding.