lordjeebus

I found out today that my younger sister (she turns 17 next week) has been cutting herself (around her ankles) for the past couple of months on a regular basis. I was saddened and shocked to say the least. It's scary.

Apparently .5 to 1% of the population engages in self-injurious behavior.

I'm not looking for resources -- I volunteer at a counseling center and fortunately have lots of information for her. Our parents and I are working to get her help, now that she's admitted to having a problem.

However, I am trying to better understand what's going on inside her. I've heard that it's often a coping mechanism for stress.

I understand that it's a very personal and emotional subject, but I was wondering if any of you had any insight or personal experiences (yourself or someone else) involving self-mutilation that you'd be willing to share. I try to put myself in other people's perspectives when working with problems, but this situation is more foreign to me than most.