the Internet & self-injury
According to an article by the American Psychological Association, 80% of America's youths ages 12 to 17 use the Internet, and half of them log on daily. For the most part, the Internet is a social venue for teens. This is a very important fact when looking at adolescents who self-injure.
Because self-injury is a shame-based disorder, few people openly talk about it or share resources out of fear of chastisement or further social isolation. However, the Internet offers anonymity and a place where individuals can network with others like themselves. For the first time, someone who self-injures can be candid about their behavior, their thoughts or their fears and network with someone else who shares these feelings. Knowing that no one knows who they are, self-injurers may feel more at liberty to be honest and vulnerable in the eyes of others.
The Internet is literally changing the way young people communicate with others. The question then becomes, how does society use this new vehicle as a tool of education? According to the article, researchers found more than 400 self-injury message boards. This speaks to the number of individuals longing for someone to share with and seek advice from.
In order to best utilize the Internet, individuals who have struggled and successfully overcome self-injury must be willing to stand up and show others the way. Professionals trained in self-injury must post information about their services and offer viable resources.
In the end, we all want acceptance. Self-injurers are finding it anonymously through the Internet. Like the Disciples more than a thousand years ago, we must go there and meet them where they are, reassure them that there is help and hope available and show them that there is life after self-injury.
SOURCE: http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/dev423407.pdf
Because self-injury is a shame-based disorder, few people openly talk about it or share resources out of fear of chastisement or further social isolation. However, the Internet offers anonymity and a place where individuals can network with others like themselves. For the first time, someone who self-injures can be candid about their behavior, their thoughts or their fears and network with someone else who shares these feelings. Knowing that no one knows who they are, self-injurers may feel more at liberty to be honest and vulnerable in the eyes of others.
The Internet is literally changing the way young people communicate with others. The question then becomes, how does society use this new vehicle as a tool of education? According to the article, researchers found more than 400 self-injury message boards. This speaks to the number of individuals longing for someone to share with and seek advice from.
In order to best utilize the Internet, individuals who have struggled and successfully overcome self-injury must be willing to stand up and show others the way. Professionals trained in self-injury must post information about their services and offer viable resources.
In the end, we all want acceptance. Self-injurers are finding it anonymously through the Internet. Like the Disciples more than a thousand years ago, we must go there and meet them where they are, reassure them that there is help and hope available and show them that there is life after self-injury.
SOURCE: http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/dev423407.pdf