Dr. David Klonsky of Stony Brook University in New York found that one in six American teens self-injures as a way to relieve anxiety and stress. Scientists used to believe that this behavior was a sign of severe mental illness and suicidal tendencies but Dr. Klonsky discovered that it is only a coping mechanism.
"There is a build-up of overwhelming negative emotion from frustration, anxiety or loneliness," he said. "Afterwards, they feel calm and relaxed. However, often on the next day, they feel angry or ashamed."This study appears in the Clinical Psychology Review of April 2006.
Labels: suicide, risky_behavior, stress
Posted By: Aspen Education Group