I think my teenager is cutting herself. Why is she doing this and what should we do?

Cutting is a very serious behavior and your teenager should be evaluated by a child psychologist or other teen specialist right away.

Some signs of self-mutilation are wearing long-sleeved or baggy clothing to cover up.

There are a number of reasons teens self-mutilate, including (believe it or not) because it's the "in thing" to do in some crowds. But usually cutting indicates serious emotional distress; the self-inflicted physical pain may actually be experienced as a release from your teen's emotional pain. It's a habit (a coping strategy) that can be very difficult to break. That's why working with a highly skilled professional is extremely important.