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Self-Mutilation
She
said she'd come over right after work, but she still isn't
here. You call her office and then her home, but no one
answers. You're convinced she went out with her old boyfriend.
You
light another cigarette. It was stupid of you to get involved
with her. You knew this sort of thing would happen. Your
head is pounding with anger, and you feel like it will lift
right off your body. You lay your arm out on the table in
front of you. Your other hand turns the lit cigarette around
and brings it down at the end of a row of puckered little
scars.
The
searing from the cigarette nails you in place. Your eyes
focus, and your head stops pounding. A wave of warmth courses
up your arm and down to your legs. You breathe deeply and
toss the cigarette out the window.
You
walk over to the front door and double-lock it. When she
shows up, let her knock until her hands are raw.
This
chapter covers the following topics:
- Self-Mutilation
-
Self-Mutilation Is Often a Sign of a Personality Disorder
- Self-Mutilation
Can Occur in Several Other Psychiatric Conditions
-
How to Cope with Self-Destructive Behaviors
This
excerpt may not be reproduced without written permission
from the publishers.
Fifty Signs of Mental Illness: A Guide to Understanding
Mental Health
Yale University Press / New Haven and London
Copyright © 2005 by James Whitney Hicks
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