Teens' Latest Self-Injury Fad: Self-Embedding

[Liberal_in_LA]

Teens' Latest Self-Injury Fad: Self-Embedding

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1865995,00.html

An X-ray image of a teen girl's arm with eight self-embedded metal pieces


At a recent medical conference in Chicago, a team of radiologists from Nationwide Children's Hospital presented intriguing X-ray evidence of a psychological phenomenon — what they believed was a new form of self-injury among teens and adolescents. Eleven out of 505 patients whom the team had treated in more than a decade had inserted objects — from chunks of crayons to unfolded paper clips — under their skin in a behavior the Nationwide team labeled "self-embedding."

[Suich]

1. I just heard about this and was horrified.

I thought "cutting" was alarming, but it pales in comparison.

[mcctatas]

2. It is terrible, I work at a mental health facility and have seen

everything from wires to pen caps, it is tragic

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Where does this come from?

Do they discuss this amongst themselves? Strategize?

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

5. Ex-cutter here.

People who practice self-injury do discuss techniques and new methods among themselves. It's like a very messed up support group.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Jeebus.

I really hope and pray you put that behind you. If you ever feel that urge returning and you need someone to talk to, contact me here through a PM. I will get back to you and we will make contact.

And yes, I have done support stuff like that before. Even with DU'ers.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

8. Thanks.

I really appreciate that, but yes, I put it behind me. When I was in college I found a good therapist who I felt comfortable talking about it with. She told me about putting ice on my wrists; she said it hurts more than cutting and doesn't cause lasting damage. She was right. So I used ice to ween myself off self-injury all together. Feel free to pass that tip along.

Thanks again. It's good to know people care. :)

[ashling]

4. I put a crayon up my nose in first grade

:rofl:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. ~

:spank:

[emilyg]

9. I put a cherry pit in my ear in first grade.

[silverojo]

10. I have a serious question

If self-embedding is a new phenomenon, how can we believe that it's a psychological problem? Psychological problems (depression, etc.) have been around for time immemorial.

Yet self-embedding is new. This implies a deliberate decision to do something different. These kids CHOOSE to do this to themselves. And it's a "fad".

Feeling suicidal isn't a fad. Feeling worthless isn't a fad. Feeling bipolar mania, etc., isn't a fad. These things are true mental illness problems.

I think what we're dealing with here is just teenaged assholes showing off for one another, like members of some remote tribe. Beavis and Butt-head trying to gross each other out, uh-huh-huh-huh. The problem begins when they do this so much that they're addicted to the "rush".

This is why I find stuff like this very offensive. I have bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder, which are true mental illnesses--they come from within, and you can't control them without meds and/or therapy. Sticking metal inside yourself because your friends are doing it is a conscious choice.

As a result, I resent it when this kind of adolescent bullshit is lumped in the same category as real mental illness. Being an asshole isn't the same as having a disorder.

[SoCalDem]

11. I'm sure there are degrees of illness

Fad or not, it's not "normal" to put things under your skin..perhaps this is their way to "hide" the abnormal feelings they have.. once healed, the "scar" is probably less noticeable than the marks left from repeated cutting..and it's a secret they can choose to keep or share..:shrug:

A person with pneumonia is ill, but not AS ill as someone with cancer or progressive heart disease..and the person with pneumonia may actually LOOK "sicker"..:(

A desire to hurt oneself is not normal behavior..

[FedUpWithIt All]

12. There is an anorexia "fad" going on in my daughter's 6th grade.

There has been mention of some sort of diet pills being taken.

The issue of teens/pre-teens and their fragile identity and self-esteem is at the heart of all of this. The pressure to fit in and the consequences of NOT fitting in can contribute to severe depression as well as harmful fantasies.

There were three suicides at the local high school in the past few years.


It is a terribly difficult time and the fact that they are creative and encouraging each other just makes it more so. The peer pressure can be extreme.