Some people are born with heightened emotional sensitivity. Cutting is a behavior that some teens who have heightened emotional sensitivity use as a coping strategy for relieving deep emotional pain and/or dumbness. Although you may not understand this behavior, you can help your teen find alternate coping strategies. Validate your teen’s emotional pain. Help him or her distract from the current emotion with music, a funny movie, or exercise. Help your teen develop self-soothing skills; soothing self-talk, petting the cat, taking a hot bath or shower, eating a favorite food.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy teaches teens and adults alternative coping strategies and skills for dealing with strong emotion. Give me a call to discuss if this would be an effective treatment for you and your family.
Take care,
Dr. Susan Landes
