Cutting Scratching
Burning Carving words or symbols into the skin
Hitting or punching oneself Piercing the skin with sharp objects such as hairpins
Pulling out hair Picking at existing wounds
Scars
Fresh cuts, burns, scratches, or bruises
Rubbing an area excessively to create a burn
Having sharp objects on hand
Wearing long sleeves or long pants, even in hot weather
Difficulties with interpersonal relationships
Persistent questions about personal identity
Behavioral and emotional instability, impulsiveness, or unpredictability
Saying that they feel helpless, hopeless, or worthless
Teens whose cutting is part of another mental health condition usually need professional help. Sometimes cutting or another symptom leads to a teen's admission to a mental health hospital or clinic. Some teens have more than one hospital stay for self-injury before they feel ready to accept help for cutting or other problems.
Some teens find a way to stop cutting on their own. This might happen if a teen finds a powerful reason to stop (such as realizing how much it hurts a friend), gets needed support, or finds ways to resist the powerful urge to cut. To stop cutting, a person also needs to find new ways to deal with problem situations and regulate emotions that feel overwhelming. This can take time and often requires the help of a mental health professional.
Crisis Text Line can help you deal with self-harm. Text a Crisis Counselor at 741741.
References:
KidsHealth https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cutting.html
Crisis Text Line https://www.crisistextline.org/topics/self-harm/#pass-741741-on-to-a-friend-8