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Dr. M is the author of five advice books for tweens and teens. Her latest is Where Should I Sit at Lunch? The Ultimate 24/7 Guide to Surviving the High School Years. She enjoys dancing, reading, working out and talking with young people about the issues that concern them. She holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology.
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Liz, a first-year college student, is the co-author of three books: Ask Dr. M and Liz; Getting to Know the Real You: 50 Fun Quizzes Just for Girls, and Girls: What's So Bad About Being Good? She loves to dance, paint, make collages, hang out with friends and, of course, give advice.
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Dear Dr. M,
What are you supposed to say to someone who completely opens up to you about their cutting? We're in different "groups" at school so I was very surprised he picked me to talk to. I don't know what to say…he tells me about things I've never felt or done before. One time he was almost crying, and I just sat there. It makes me feel good knowing he trusts me enough to tell me about his life, but this is more than I can handle. He's also talked to my friend. What should we do? He stopped cutting for a while, but he's started again. This scares me. PLEASE HELP!
—Katie, 15, Washington
Dear Katie,
You must be a very caring person for someone to be so open with you. But you're right—someone who cuts needs professional help. What you can do now is talk to a parent, guidance counselor or school social worker to get information about where that kind of assistance is located in your community, and share that information with this guy. You might also want to suggest that he talk to his family about getting help.
—Dr. M
Dear Katie,
Although it is really important that both you and your friend continue to be there for this guy any time he needs someone to talk to, the best thing you can do for him is convince him to get professional help for his problem. A problem as serious as cutting is something that he really needs an adult's help with.
—Liz
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