Cutting, Imbedding and Burning – SIB
Guest post by Betsi Phillips Calhoun
Why is Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB) so prominent among students today? Why would they resort to cutting (using a sharp instrument to inflict pain and induce bleeding), imbedding (cutting themselves, placing objects in the incision and gluing or sewing them in) or burning (inflicting pain to the skin tissue with something hot or flaming)?
We may see these acts as extremely volatile ways to deal with inner pain but they view them as viable solutions for expression. Many researchers have termed this type of behavior “the voice on the skin” as it seems to be the chosen method of articulating or expressing their inner pain and confusion.
Teens today appear to be feeling pain and disappointment more deeply than ever before. Teen suicide is at an all-time high. Families are being dismantled through divorce. Victimization manifests itself through bullying, sexual and emotional abuse. This is all complicated by the fact that they tend to lack the ability to verbalize their feelings, fears and inward stresses.
In counseling teen gals, I’ve asked what the “pay-off” is for cutting or inflicting physical pain on themselves. They’ve voiced these explanations:
- “When I see the blood flowing out of my arm, I experience an instant release from the pain and confusion I feel inside.
- “It’s almost like I’m somehow atoning for my shame and guilt by hurting my body.”
- “I feel there is something terrible inside me that I have to get out any way that I can. I think that’s part of the reason why I have to bleed. Afterwards, I feel cleansed. I feel like whatever was crushing me before has been removed. I feel calm and in control.”
As adults, we may find it hard to understand why these young people would find an “escape” in bodily pain. The truth is that this is another one of Satan’s delusional mind games. He deceives them into believing that this will offer some kind of relief from the pressures of a cruel world. They often believe this will rid them of their guilt and shame.
We must not condemn them but reach out in love to connect them with the Savior, the One who was literally wounded to redeem them from the pain and shame they feel. This Savior still bears the scars of the deep cuts in his body, and the nails and thorns imbedded in His skin as He suffered for our sins.
Here are some scriptures I have used in counseling teens who struggle with SIB:
- Isaiah 56:4-12 – This passage demonstrates that the physical pain Jesus endured on the cross was enough to atone for all their sin and shame.
- I Peter 5:7 – Jesus asks us to cast all of our burdens (our needs, stressors, pain and pressures) upon Him. He alone can restore peace and joy to their life. His liberation from guilt is permanent, not temporary like the false relief of SIB.
- Psalms 86:1-7 – Read these biblical truths and give them the opportunity to break their SIB cycle. Ask them to cry out to God confessing this behavior as sin.
- Romans 12:1-2 – After making sure of their personal relationship with Christ, encourage them to surrender their bodies to God.
- II Corinthians 10:3-4 – Explain to them the battle for the mind and that they must break the cycle of getting temporary relief through repeated injurious behaviors on which they have become dependent. Dealing with a life-dominating sin begins with the mind:
- Pull down the strongholds – (the thoughts that you have to injure yourself for relief or pleasure).
- Cast down the arguments – (thoughts of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness have no place in the mind of God’s child!)
- Surrender the controllers – (In order to win the battle, one must surrender their pride and humble themselves under God’s hand.)
- Capture the thoughts – (Take control of destructive thoughts and leave them at the foot of the cross!)
For further help, check out the references below:
Self-injury: a quick guide to the basics
McDowell, Josh and Bob Hostetler, Josh McDowell’s Handbook on Counseling Youth, (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1966.)
