Originally Posted by
AnybodyNobody 
Rosalba and Butterfly nailed it with their comments on what self harm can be for people, especially adolescents.
I was a cutter starting at the age of 13 until maybe 19-20 yo. For me it was a self-soothing act wherein the physical pain temporarily eased the overwhelming emotional pain/numbness dichotomy. It was something 'real' and 'controllable' for someone feeling so out of control of their life and/or emotions.
I think you handled it very well, Free. The hardest thing for me was thinking that my parents must have known (I was not careful about covering up) but were too wrapped up in their own issues to even care to confront me and steer me into getting help. By letting her know that you know, and that you love and support her, along with getting her to the regular therapy sessions, hopefully she will be able to find other coping strategies for what she is going through. I am so sorry that you are dealing with this - it must be so scary.
Yep - very much my experience. (When I told my mother I was cutting, and was going to see a counsellor, she said 'How peculiar!' and changed the subject...!)
Hope life is kinder to you these days AN, and Free - your daughter knows you love her, and that you care. That's a gift greater than rubies. (Make sure you're getting loads of support for yourself, too!)
xxx