It was another wreckful morning for Joseph Serrano as he woke up to his parents yelling at him, verbally abusing him and making him feel worthless. To add to his situation, he just finished fighting with his girlfriend that night.

Feeling down, Joseph left his house and sat on the cold, sticky sidewalk. As he waited for his bus to arrive, driven by the emotions running through him, he reached into his book bag and grabbed a safety pin, using it to cut two one-inch gashes on his arm. Then, he sat there watching himself bleed, waiting for his bus to arrive and wanting his life to end.

This was Serrano’s last cutting experience, and it serves to prove that cutting is real, and it happens amongst the teenage society.

Cutting is not a subject that people talk about very often, but for an estimated 3

million Americans, it is a serious problem. Cutting has become a popular form of expression for many teens, and is proving to be a difficult subject to address.

Cutting is injuring oneself on purpose by making scratches or cuts on the body with a sharp object, with enough force to break the skin and cause bleeding.

Cutters often use razors, utility knives, scissors, needles, broken glass, or whatever is found to make repetitive slices on different body parts.

Cutting is a type of Self Injury and is also known as Deliberate Self-Harm Syndrome. People who inflict these self-injuries are not usually suicidal. They do, however, intentionally inflict injuries upon themselves, usually as a response to stress or trauma. Their injuries may vary from minor cuts that heal quickly, to very serious wounds that leave permanent scars. Cutters usually cut on their arms, legs, bellies, and some even burn themselves.

According to Dr. Wendy Lader from the American Psychological Association, “Self-injury, which often takes the form of cutting or burning, is best viewed as a coping strategy: Clients usually injure themselves because they want to avoid some painful emotion, and self-injury brings a sense of control over these unwanted feelings.”

Some people who self-injure say that they do it because they normally feel numb and cutting helps them to feel alive. Others talk about the sense of control they may get from self-injury.

“I started cutting because of girl issues and family problems. I cut for about a year, but I feel that cutting was my dumb stage of life, and even though my friends tried to help me, my girlfriend Lynne was the reason why I stopped cutting,” said Serrano.

Statistics show that 750 per 100,000 of the American population exhibit self injurious behavior, and that the highest percentage of people who injure themselves are teenaged girls.

There are warning signs, such as unexplained frequent injuries, like cuts and burns. Teens will begin wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts even in warm weather, low self-esteem, difficulty handling and expressing emotions, and problematic relationships.

If these signs are noticed, it is vital for them to seek help, or if necessary, have help come to them. Even though cutting might be a way to express emotions, it is not safe.

“Self-injurious behavior is ultimately a dangerous and futile coping strategy that interferes with intimacy, productivity, and happiness. There is no "safe" or "healthy" amount of self-injury,” said Dr. Lader.

There are plenty of healthy ways to overcome this obstacle and it is never too late to get help.

HOTLINE: If you or anyone you know is having problems with self-injury, please contact the Teen Crisis Hot Line 1-800-367-7287.