I know this is a scary thought, but some girls will cut themselves when they feel overwhelmed emotionally (it’s a bit more complicated than that, but that’s the gist of it).

Many girls struggle to deal with negative emotions and these emotions can be a trigger for self-harming. Cutting tends to be the most common form of self-harming behaviors and it is on the rise.

I case you don’t know, cutting is when a person scratches or cuts themselves with a sharp object, breaking the skin and making it bleed. Usually this is done on the arms or the legs.

If you think your daughter might be cutting, my best advice is to stay calm. As a counselor, I have had so many girls share with me that this makes the situation so much worse. They are already struggling and then having to deal with their parents’ strong emotional reaction can complicate the situation.

I do want you to take any form of self-harm seriously. If your daughter is self-harming (or even if you suspect it) please reach out to a professional counselor to get support and guidance. Cutting is a cry for help and it should be addressed as soon as possible.

You will likely need support also. When I work with a girl who is self-harming, I also work with her parents to give them the support and guidance they need (for themselves and their daughter).

Please let me know if I can help you with a concern.

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Licensed counselor and founder of Girls Stand Strong Michelle Kelley, LCSW, helps girls and women of all ages develop and improve their self-image, self-esteem, relationship and communication skills, emotional understanding, coping skills, the ability to handle difficult situations and people, and resiliency to create a brighter, better and more successful tomorrow. For more information about Michelle’s coaching and counseling services, call (703) 505-2413 or email michelle@girlsstandstrong.com.