TeenHealthFX - Answers - Horrible Urges To Slit My Wrists

Suicide / Question
Published: May 5, 2008

Dear TeenHealthFX,

I keep getting horrible urges to slit my wrists. When I do actually get the knife or blade in my hand, I cn't bring myself to do it. But I want to so badly. I can't talk to my mum about it becuse I think she is depressed and I can't tell my dad about it either because he will be so fussy over it. I hve cut myself a few times and just let it bleed. I think the reason is because my family have just gone even more downhill since my gran died - my aunts arguing wit each other and my mum becoming depressed. It is all very upsetting. Plus I hate myself because I haven't had my first kiss yet and eveyone has. I get relly angry as well and i'm scared of hurting people. Please help - i'm really frightened. Signed - Want To Slit My Wrists But Can't Bring Myself To Do It

Signed: Horrible Urges To Slit My Wrists

Dear Horrible Urges To Slit My Wrists,

TeenHealthFX is very concerned about you since it sounds like you have some significant stressors going on in your life right now that are really taking a toll on your emotional well-being. The part of you that has urges to slit your wrists is probably the part of you that is feeling overwhelmed and alone in dealing with what has been going on within your family. But the part of you that can’t bring yourself to go through with it is probably the part of you that wants things to get better and that realizes (correctly!) that if you do reach out to others, there are people who will be there for you in a positive and helpful way so that your situation can improve.

FX hopes that you will continue to fight these urges to self-harm and strongly recommends that you tell someone about how you have been feeling as soon as possible. If you are feeling too reluctant to go to your parents for the reasons you stated above, find another adult to talk to. You could go to your school social worker or psychologist, your guidance counselor, the school nurse or principal, a teacher, an extended family member, your primary care physician, or any other trusted adult. It is important that an adult intervene so that you and your family can have the opportunity to set up the following: counseling to deal with the death of your grandparent, therapy for your mother to address her depression, family therapy to address the relationship issues between you and your parents that make it difficult for you to reach out to them for help and support, counseling for you so that the underlying issues contributing to your urges to self-harm can be addressed and so that you can begin to develop healthier coping mechanisms to deal with stressors and negative emotions, and the presence of a support system of adults for you so that you have people to turn to for guidance and support.

If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a therapist you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 973-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area. You can also contact your insurance company to get a list of in-network mental health providers.

You can also contact the Self-Injury Hotline (information only, not a crisis line) at 1-800-DON’T-CUT, 1-800-366-8288.

If you get to the point that you are seriously considering suicide or are afraid of your impulses then you need to seek help immediately. You can call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. In northern New Jersey you can also call the crisis hotline from Morristown Memorial hospital at 973-540-0100. Outside this area call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline, 1-800-999-9999, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Signed: TeenHealthFX