FEARS OVER DAUGHTER’S RAZOR CUTS

Dear Coleen

I have a son and daughter, and my daughter, now 16, has always been fairly troubled. She’s incredibly shy and has been bullied on and off throughout her school years.

A few weeks ago I found out she has been using one of my razors to make tiny cuts along her arms.

When I tried to talk to her about it she got very angry and locked herself away in her bedroom where she’s just on her phone constantly.

I think she has very low selfesteem and is possibly depressed and she needs to see our GP urgently.

But she absolutely refuses to go. My husband and I are at the end of our tether and we just don’t know what to do.

Coleen says I feel so very sad for you and your husband because this really is every parent’s worst nightmare.

If it were me I’d go to the GP myself and discuss this. The doctor should have leaflets, organisations and website recommendations for you. You’ll need outside help with a situation like this, as it’s too difficult to handle on your own.

As you say, if you shout at her she’ll just dig her heels in further and won’t understand that you’re shouting out of love and fear.

You should also ask your GP – or any of the organisations that he or she puts you in touch with – for help and advice on how best you, your husband and your son, should handle this.

Something like this is similar to anorexia, and the whole family will need help and support in knowing the best way to deal with it. You must take action immediately and try to nip this sad situation in the bud as soon as you can.