Self Mutilation
The reason I chose this topic is because my boyfriend’s daughter, who is 15 years old, is a self-mutilator. ... Some psychologists would claim that self-mutilation is an attention-seeking actions while others call it an act of self-manipulation. It is estimated that there are over two million chronic self-injurers in America today. Self-mutilation is a general term for a variety of forms of intentional self-harm without the desire to die. Cutting one’s skin with razors or knives is the most common pattern of self-mutilation. ... Self-mutilation is commonly put into the present, and discover- ing the reasons for the action is left hidden. ... ” Self-mutilation has become a major public health concern as it incidence appears to have risen since the early 1990s. One source estimates hat 750 per 100,000 persons per year have problems with self-injury. Self-mutilation usually begins in late-childhood and early adolescence, and although for some it becomes a chronic problem, most self-muti- lators do not continue that behavior after 10-15 years.