Dr. Linda Mintle (Dr. Linda Helps) :: Teen Cutters

Dr. Linda Mintle (Dr. Linda Helps) :: Teen Cutters

Aired on May 3, 2010– 11 am PST on www.latalkradio.com

TO LISTEN TO THE PROGRAM: PLAY | DOWNLOAD

TITLE: Bleeding Hearts: What Causes a Teen to Become a Cutter?

SPECIAL GUEST: Linda S. Mintle, Ph.D., is a Virginia-based licensed clinical social worker and author of the new “Breaking Free Series”

http://www.drlindahelps.com

Known for her expertise and practical advice, Dr. Linda and Allen delve into the psychological profile of teens who cut themselves to relieve the stress and emotional pain they feel.

Stress from school, peers and her family combined with a media-driven culture have throw teens into such turmoil that harming their bodies is one way to find momentary relief from it all.

The momentary “high” they feel when they cuts their body comes from a release of endorphins that are secreted into their bloodstream. This provides a quick numbing or pleasurable sensation and temporarily distracts them from the stress they feel.

Girls, who the largest majority of cutters, often self-harm themselves because they feel emotionally distant from or invalidated by their parents. Some are rewarded for this behavior by a peer group that also engages in self-harm as a coping mechanism.

Many describe feeling “dead” inside or invisible to parents, and feel alive or confirmed in their existence when they cut. For many, cutting is a way to manage overly demanding parents. Cutting usually takes place on the arms, thighs, legs or abdomen. The evidence of it is often hidden under clothing, but a sibling might notice the marks, or a parent might find a razor or other sharp object in the adolescent’s room.

If a teen has a habit of becoming highly distressed and locking themselves in their bedroom, they may be inflicting harm on herself. This is often the case with the girls I have treated for eating disorders. They would rather harm themselves than deal with a conflict or challenge from a parent.

Obviously, self-harm requires intervention by a mental-health professional. The best treatment is family therapy with a skilled and trained family therapist. Therapy usually focuses on improving family communication, lessening expectations and demands, teaching conflict resolution and problem-solving, and developing closer and more meaningful relationships with parents and siblings.

In addition to participating in family therapy, girls who self-harm have to learn to (1) identify the triggers that lead to cutting; (2) control their thoughts; and (3) solve problems.

They need to be taught that harming themselves is not an appropriate way to feel alive or cope with emotional pain.

Let’s Get Real BY LINDA S. MINTLE, PH.D. Girls who self-harm often feel emotionally distant from their parents. Linda S. Mintle, Ph.D., is a Virginia-based licensed clinical social worker and author of the new Breaking Free Series (Charisma House), available at www.charismahouse.com. She invites your questions about the tough issues of life at www.DrLindaHelps.com.

ABOUT DR. LINDA

Known for her humor and practical advice, Dr. Linda will motivate you to get real and get moving. A national expert on the psychology of food and weight as well as marriage and family, her no-nonsense approach to everyday life and conversational style will inspire and uplift.

For over 20 years, Dr. Linda has been in clinical practice as a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed marriage and family therapist having worked in a variety of settings that have earned her several distinctions.

Dr. Linda currently serves on the community faculty of Eastern Virginia Medical School as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics. Previous faculty appointments include Wheaton College’s Graduate Psychology Department, Regent University’s School of Psychology and Counseling, the Department of Psychiatry at Eastern Virginia Medical School and the University of South Florida’s Florida Mental Health Institute.

Dr. Linda has authored numerous articles and sixteen titles: her latest effort Press Pause …Before You Eat says goodbye to mindless eating and hello to the joy of eating.  Other books include the best seller Lose It For Life; Making Peace With Your Thighs; Raising Healthy Kids; I Married You, Not Your Family; A Daughter’s Journey Home: Finding a Way to love, honor and connect with your mother; The Breaking Free series of six books on the topics of stress, anger, depression, anorexia bulimia, compulsive overeating and negative self-image; Getting Unstuck and Kids Killing Kids.

Dr. Linda received her Ph.D. from Old Dominion University in Urban Health Services and Clinical Psychology. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communications, both from Western Michigan University.

Married for 35 years, the mother of two teenagers, Dr. Linda resides in Virginia.

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