does anyone know what a razor and ritual mean to a teenage girl?

Question

I have a teenage daughter who cuts herself w/ a razor. I have recently found out that others in her group of "friends" do the same thing everyday. As part of what, I dont know yet. She also writes about wishing she could die. She's 13. A friend I asked for advice, said it was maybe a satanic ritual. Does anyone know what I'm talking about??

Answer 1

Self-harm is a way for people to relieve the emotional pain of everyday life, especially in the case of teenagers, but not exclusively. People who self-harm may do so with a specific implement or with whatever is convenient to them. In experiencing physical pain, an inflicter of self-harm may seek control; for many, self-harm may be a way to experience a defined sensation rather than amorphous emotional stress. In some cases there may be a specific ritual associated with the activity, such as being in a certain location, listening to certain types of music, or following the activity with specific behaviors not directly related to the harming itself.

Also, some people are soothed by the sight of their own blood, and it calms them in distressing situations.

It is also important to note that some self-injurers report feeling very little to no pain while self-harming.

Self-harm may also give a feeling of being in control of ones own body, which could be especially important for survivors of sexual abuse.

Self-injury may also be a means of communicating distress. This motivation is sometimes dismissed as "attention seeking" and has often been seen as the primary motivation. However, for many, the act of self-harm fulfils a purpose in itself and is not a means of communicating with or influencing others. Many who self-injure keep their injuries secret, while those who do disclose their injuries may be embarrassed and ashamed of their actions.

Those who engage in self-harm face the contradictory reality of harming themselves whilst at the same time obtaining relief from this act. For some self-injurers this relief is primarily psychological whilst for others this feeling of relief comes from the beta endorphins released in the brain (the same chemicals responsible for the "runner's high"). These act to reduce tension and emotional distress and may lead to a feeling of calm. A similar rush of endorphins is triggered when someone receives a tattoo. In this way, one can become addicted to getting tattoos. Similarly, those who self injure may also become addicted to the endorphin rush.

As a coping mechanism, self-injury can become psychologically addictive because, to the self-injurer, it works; it enables him/her to deal with intense stress in the current moment. The patterns sometimes created by it, such as specific time intervals between acts of self-injury, can also create a behavioral pattern that can result in a wanting or craving to fulfill thoughts of self-injury.

Self-harm may be an indicator of depression and / or other psychological problems. It is worth noting that whilst self-injury is emphatically not a failed or half-hearted suicide attempt, there is a non-causal correlation between self-injury and suicide. Many make the mistake of believing that self-harm and suicide are directly connected in the sense that the former leads to the latter 100% of the time. This is not so. While self harming behaviour may seem alarming and appear dangerous, for most of the people engaged in self injurious behaviour, self-injury serves a purpose, allowing them some degree of control over their feelings. Therapy and skills training can be very useful for those who self-harm. The therapy module used will vary depending on the person's diagnosis and their individual needs. DBT, or Dialectical behavioral therapy can be very successful for those with a personality disorder, and could potentially be used for those with other mental illnesses who exhibit self-harm behavior. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is generally used to assist those with axis 1 diagnoses, such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Diagnosis and treatment of the causes is thought by many to be the best approach to self-harm; but in some cases, particularly in clients with a personality disorder, this is not very effective, which is why more clinicians are starting to take a DBT approach in order to reduce the behavior itself. A person who is injuring themselves may be advised to use coping skills, such as journaling or taking a walk, when they have the urge to harm themselves. They may also be told to avoid having the objects they use to harm themselves within easy reach. People who rely on habitual self-harm are sometimes psychiatrically hospitalised, based on their stability, and their ability and especially their willingness to get help.

Answer 2

My response is get your daughter help and RIGHT NOW... As in, read the rest of this later for further explanation and take her for professional help immediately.
It's kind of along the lines of the previous comment left by "I am awesome", it's somewhat a means of dealing with the tragedies that plague kids, which may seem miniscule to someone out of those terrible years of adolesence, but it is very real to those in the midst of it. The best way I know to explain it is creating a physical wound to let out the emotional pain or maybe to substantiate the emotional pain. I think it's called "ritualistic" simply because it becomes such a strict routine from the tools you use, to the direction you cut, to the time of day you do it, to the exact way to bandage and hide it from everyone else, etc. If it's something that she is doing with her girlfriends, I would hope that means you have a little less to worry about. Perhaps its the same concept as above but in a social sense (i.e. the difference between alcoholic and social drinker.) However, at the first mention of death, in the context of "I wish I could die" is as the experts say a serious cry for help. At 13, hell at ANY age really, life can be rather unbearable to deal with and it sounds like your daughter could use some professional assistance in finding the balance between the bad and good that life has handed her. She sees dying as a way out of the pain which is what she is desperately seeking, and as the caring mother you seem to be, your job is to help her find that way out, safely. Best of luck to you and your daughter on a speedy recovery.

Answer 3

I don't think it's a satanic ritual.I'm 13 and I think it's just that they can't figue out what's happening to them.13 and 12 are the ages where the body changes.Everybody goes through it,but,some times, they take it really bad,resulting in them harming themselves. Since the hormone levels are so crazy,when something bad happens,like a family member dying,they take it HORRIBLEY.Believe me,I've had some experiences in the last year that have just made me want to break down.You should probably talk to your daughter about it. Maybe take her to a counselor and get some anti deppresants for her. It also might be peer pressure.Since her friends do it,maybe she thinks that she can't hang with them unless she does the same thing as they do. I hope this info helps!good luck!

Answer 4

I agree with the "music note person". Self-mutilation is becoming more and more prevalent with teenagers. Psychological help would definitely be encouraged. We live in a society with many pressures, i.e. what is beauty, what do I have to do to fit in, why am I so different...the list goes on. Professional help would probably be the best solution to 'begin' the healing process. All our minds work differently thanks to our endocrine system, so something that works for one will not work for another. I used to be a self-mutilator, but for me, I found Jesus, and practice prayer and meditation. That works for me, probably not for everyone else. I also would't be too afraid of the satanic ritual part of it. Most everything we do as humans is ritualistic. Many major religions practice rituals, as well as those of us who wake up and do our morning rituals before leaving for work or starting our day. Sometimes, people are a lot like cattle, they need routine and method. I will pray for you and your daughter that you find the right words to approach her with. Above all, remember compassion.

Answer 5

I also agree with the music note person but there are a few things that need to be done


1. confront your daughter about the issue and dont use place holders ( words that are vague and doesnt represent the issue at hand) examples: issue, sickness

2. Seek pyschatric help for her ( if things are extremely bad hospitalization)

3. i would not flat out say that she cant see her friends any longer but if things are extermely bad saying in a nice way that she cant see her friends anylonger might be necessary for the healing process to tkae place and limit her alone time

Answer 6

I'm 15 and I've NEVER heard of anything like that! Get her some help NOW! Who cares why she really is doing it right now. What if she dies today and you didn't stop her b/c you are too busy trying to figure out why she is doing it. Make it stop, then figure out why so she won't do it again in the future. Get her pro. help. I girl in my grade had to leave school for a month once b/c she tried to kill herself with bleach and a hair straightner. So her parents made her go to one of those safe houses for mental people.
Witica, I think that's how its spelled, is that religion of worshiping satian. And I don't know much about. I only heard of it from an article from my Seventeen mag. But I don't thiink that cutting yourself is in it. I don't know. Once you get her prob. solved do some research on satain religions. And pray for her. God can fix anything! Make her go to curch! God bless and good luck!!

Answer 7

It is called self-mutilation. It has nothing to do with Satanism, or any ritual. The basic premise is that of self-hatred. In your daughter's case she might just be following her friends' lead. Her friends that do that lack self-esteem and aren't good role models.I would forbid my daughter to see people like that and seek professional help at once.

Answer 8

It's not satanic. Self-mutilation is a sign that your daughter needs help. Find a good psycholigist/therapist who specializes in adolescence. Your daughter could be suffering from depression and cuts herself to numb the emotional pain she's feeling.

Answer 9

Its not Sataniscper se, its a serious problem called Self-Mutilation. Her depression has reached the point where she feels the need the cut herself. Typically this is a female reaction to unbearable stress and depression, one step short of attempting suicide. Your daughter needs therapy RIGHT NOW before she does something to herself she wont heal from.

I would also find out the names of the parents of the other girls in this "group" you refer to and let them know what their chidlren are involved in. Left untreated, this could turn tragic in a very short time.

Answer 10

Being a "cutter" is a serious condition! This is much too complicated to resolve in a chat room or internet. Find a child therapist who is familiar with this condition and seek their assistance as soon as possible. This is not to be taken lightly, I will pray for your, and your daughter's, success.

Answer 11

I am a teenager, and her group of friends are other suicidels,who arent wanting to die just yet so they cut themselves becuz they think the pain helps their suffering...GET HER HELP. She will thank you. Talk to her. When I was upset and just wanted to cry all the time my mom talked to me and It made me feel like maybe somebody did care about me. It made me feel ten times better. She needs to know you care, you love her, and you will always be there for her, and that SHE is your best friend...Now if you excuse me I am going to go give my mom a big hug lol