To not know if this is normal. *TRIGGER WARNING added by MNHQ very sensitive subject*

[User700800]

Posting for traffic ds self harmed eairler. The cuts are still painful and one has a blue tint to it.

Where are the cuts? What did they use? (Could just be from the metal if used, but I would use antiseptic just in case.)

I have a dc who self harms OP, I feel for you it's awful. Try and get a referral to CAMHS from your GP. In the meantime show your DS how to care for the cuts, don't react too strongly (no anger or blame in particular) and try to get him to speak to you about what is troubling him. IMO it's not normal, it's a sign that there's something wrong. Good luck

You need to go to A&E and let them make a safeguarding referral - it'll be quicker than a GP faffing about.

It is not normal in the sense that it shows there is something that's affecting him, he's trying to shake off anxiety/it's a cry for help etc.

I used to self harm as a teenager OP. It was my way of trying to distract my brain from thinking about my parents divorce. I needed someone to talk too and I only got the help I needed last year at the age of 28.

Your son needs some help and don't feel disheartened if he can't speak to you. Sometimes we just need a stranger to talk too. He might not want to talk to anyone but please try.

I'm sorry you're going through this.

Sorry to hear this. Self harm is sadly not that uncommon in teenagers, but much more unusual in younger children. You don't say what age your ds is, but you could talk to your gp and ask for a camhs (child and adolescent mental health referral). A quicker route could be to go and speak to the school pastoral lead/learning mentor. Schools often can put in some support and can also refer to camhs or an early support/intervention service. (These vary from area to area but charities such as Place 2Be, Child Action, Nest and Barnardos, NSPCC might help. The charity Young Minds do a download able pack for parents and children you can Google. This will help give you some understanding and a way forward. Hope things go well for you and your ds Op.

Ring Young Minds parents helpline for support and advice, they are great and highly trained:

0808 802 5544

Also see Dr and get CAMHS referral. Be prepared for this referral to take a long time.

Does the school have a counsellor your child can see?

youngminds.org.uk/media/1519/youngminds-self-harm.pdf

I self-harmed dreadfully when I was a teenager, for about 5 years or so on and off. I was being badly bullied at school and things were tense at home and it was the only way I had to take control of anything.

No child does this for no reason, try to sit down with your DS and gently talk about what's troubling him. Please do try to be supportive and understanding even if you really don't understand. When my parents eventually found out about my SH they made me feel a lot worse by saying they were sure I was just going through a 'phase' and they didn't want to take me to a GP because they were worried I'd be put on addictive antidepressants. They absolutely meant well but they just didn't know what to say or how to react. I wish they'd asked me what I wanted.

I would consider going to see your GP and asking for a referral to a counsellor and also talking to the school as they may have help available.