Dear Shaila,

Cutting (sometimes called self-mutilation) is a challenge that many young people face. It is often difficult for others to understand, and is sometimes misinterpreted as a suicidal gesture, which it usually is not. As a result, people that cut often hide their wounds from others and feel ashamed of their behavior.

Cutting yourself may give you a great sense of relief in response to negative emotions like sadness, anger, or guilt. Or it could be a way for you to “feel” negative emotions. Because it gives you this positive feeling of relief, it can often become almost addictive and difficult to stop.

The good news is that there are other healthier and more effective ways to deal with your feelings. The best way to do this is to meet with a licensed counselor who is trained to treat people with these challenges. Through counseling you can learn more effective ways of dealing and experiencing negative emotions. More important, you can identify and address the underlying reasons for these feelings.

Reach out to a parent, caregiver, school counselor, or other trusted adult in order to get recommendations of counselors that have the training to help you. The fact that you’re “fed up” is actually a great sign that you are at a point to really benefit from counseling. All you need to do now is take that first step.