My friend cuts herself how can I help her to stop other then sending her to a loony bin.?

Question

I have talked to her alot about it she says it's because a combination of her Grandma's death the other event being that she was nearly raped by two friends I need something helpful to say to her I suffer from grief too and still haven't found the answer to it and no I don't cut myself and as for the near rape I am a guy so I have no idea how to respond to that please help.

I meant no insult by saying "Loney bin" I am just afrid if she goes to get help they will never let her go. that she would be mad at me for it I really care for this girl

Answer 1

There are no magical words for a situation like this. Continue to talk to her about how she feels. Let her know it is okay to grieve. Also let her know that cutting is extremely dangerous and can lead to life threatening illnesses. Ask her to talk to a counselor or her regular doctor. She may need to take anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety medication to help her get thru all of this.

Answer 2

First of all, there's lots of hope for your friend to get better because she has someone like you in her life, who wants to help and cares enough to try to get advice.

That being said, chances are that she's cutting herself because she's crying out for help and is suffering so much inside that she can't find a way to express what it is she needs in order to heal. The tough thing for you is that there's really nothing that you can say to her that will make her stop. This seems to be how she's learned to deal with overwhelming stress and it's out of your hands. The very best thing you can do is just listen to her when she needs to talk and understand that she's struggling and needs your friendship, which it seems you're already doing.

Regarding the "looney bin," though, it's likely that the best thing for her will be some sort of long-term treatment facility. She will have constant support there, she will learn how to cope without destroying herself, and being admitted to a facility may very well save her life. They are safe places for people to heal like your friend needs to do. If I was in your position, I'd bring this to someone's attention right away, before your friend kills herself. She may not even need to be sent away, she may just need some counseling, but if no one is aware of what's happening with her, she'll never get the help she needs. Good luck!

Answer 3

The best thing you can do for her is just be there for her. Let her know that you're willing to listen and help anytime and that you really care about her. There really is not a whole lot more you can do for her at this point other than that. Ask her if there is anything you could do to help her and see what she says. Maybe offer random words of encouragement sometimes or something like that. There is no one way to deal with it, but dont force her to do anything she isn't ready for.

Answer 4

Your post says you have alot of concern for this girl, you are sensitive and caring. Well it is a coping mechanism to distract psychological pain, make sure she is not a danger to herself, and help her to talk more openly, she could be depressed within, and struggling with a lot of things. Befriend her and be there for her, get her involved in something interesting. and motivate her to get appropriate help. talk to her, she has confessed it to you, and that goes to say she feels cared for, since you have a good rapport you can offer to take her to speak to some adult. Tell her she is very young and that she will not be able to wear clothing exposing her scars. She has to learn to seek help, and asking for help is a sure sign of strength.

Answer 5

Please don't call it the "loony bin". It is very insulting. Your friend is not looney. She is in serious pain from trauma and needs professional help. She is cutting herself because the emotions she feels are to painful and so to relieve the pain she cut's herself.

Answer 6

You don't have to say anything. Just be her friend and listen. When she starts to feel better about herself she will stop. Does she have a lot of friends? Go out and do things and have fun. Do things that she likes to do.

Answer 7

First, it is NOT a looney bin and that might be just what she needs. Please don't be silent about this as it can and probably will escalate into more suicidal thoughts. If you aren't getting through to her, you owe it to her to have a sit down with her parents. This is very serious! Good luck!

Answer 8

just tell ur friend that at least she has a life she can live...and cutting her wrists will definately not help bring her grandma back...nor will it get rid of rapers..... but it can cause near death of she does it constantly.... (blood loss or air-borne viruses or infections) tell ur friend she can just enjoy life by becoming a better person....even better than her grandma, and when she does become better she can fight off rapists...(or however u spell rapeists...w/e) but tell her theres a life waiting for her...and that life doesnt involve slitting her wrists.....

Answer 9

She does need counseling. Nothing wrong with that. It is way to express herself. She needs help before she hurts herself too much or someone else.

Answer 10

Your friend really needs to talk to someone. If she doens't want to go and talk to someone alone you could maybe see if you could go with her. Your friend might be mad at you for telling someone about her cutting but I would rather my friend be mad at me then dead. Please tell someone who can help her. I find writing my feeling down in a journal helps. But she needs to talk to a professional.