Why Do Teens Cut Themselves?

Why do teens cut themselves? Cutting and other types of self-harm are dangerous behaviors that have many potential causes. Risk factors include having certain mental illnesses, struggling with overwhelming stress, and feeling that their life is spinning out of control. 

At Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center, we approach complex concerns such as cutting from a compassionate, evidence-based perspective. Working closely with young people and their parents, we develop customized treatment plans to help teens make sustained progress toward the healthier futures they deserve.

Learn more about teen mental health treatment in California or verify your insurance now.

Understanding Self-Injury

To understand why do teens cut themselves, it can be helpful to first take a step back and review some basic facts about the behavior itself.

Cutting is one of several behaviors that are classified as self-harm. Other examples include:

• Inserting needles under their skin
• Pulling their hair out
• Burning their skin
• Punching themselves
• Hitting their body against walls or other hard objects

Clinicians refer to these behaviors as nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Other terms for them include self-injury, self-mutilation, and self-abuse.

Three important facts about cutting and other types of self-harm:

• Self-harm is not the same as a suicide attempt, though young people who engage in NSSI may be at increased risk of attempting to end their own lives. 
• Self-harming behaviors are not mental health conditions themselves, but they can be symptomatic of many mental health disorders.  
• Self-harm is most common among adolescents and teenagers. However, children and adults have also been known to cut or otherwise intentionally injure themselves.

Why Do Teens Cut Themselves?

There’s no single answer to the question of why do teens cut themselves. And considering how many young people engage in this behavior, it would be impossible to list every potential reason. 

But we can identify a few of the more common factors that can put teens at increased risk of cutting or otherwise harming themselves. These include having a mental illness, struggling to manage their emotions, feeling like they have no control over their life, having the urge to punish themselves, and wanting to ask for help but not knowing how.

Mental Illness

Mental health disorders that have been associated with an increased risk of self-harm include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Schizophrenia
• Acute stress disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Eating disorders

Emotional Dysregulation

Both intense emotional distress and emotional numbness can be precursors to cutting and other types of self-harm.

Feelings of overwhelming anger or sadness often cause people to engage in questionable or clearly dangerous behaviors as a means of coping. Examples of unhealthy responses to extreme emotions include substance use, binge eating, withdrawal and self-isolation, and self-harm.

At the other end of the emotional spectrum, a sense of emptiness or numbness can also push people into risky or harmful actions in an attempt to feel anything at all. For some teens, inflicting pain on themselves by cutting or burning their skin may be an attempt to pierce their emotional detachment. 

Control

The teen years are typically marked by a fervent desire for greater freedom. But this desire often conflicts with the reality of teen life. For example, most teens remain financially dependent on their parents and subject to the authority of teachers, coaches, bosses, and other adults. Also, teens have fewer legal rights than adults do.

Cutting and other acts of self-harm can be a way for teens to exert at least a modicum of control over their life. Secretly hurting themselves can be the one part of their life where they feel completely in charge.

Punishment

Adults often recall their teen years as a carefree time of few responsibilities and limited demands. People who are currently in their teens often have a decidedly different view.

The ongoing effort to fit in with their peers, impress their teachers, and make their parents proud can push some teens into believing that nothing short of perfection is acceptable. In some cases, teens who hold this mindset may use cutting and other types of self-harm as a way to punish themselves for perceived flaws or failures.

Cry for Help

It can be difficult for people of any age to put their emotional pain into words. But if you can’t tell anyone what’s wrong, how can you get help? 

For some teens, the inability to express what they’re dealing with manifests as defiance, aggressiveness, physical violence, and other types of unacceptable behaviors. 

In other cases, teens may use cutting and/or other forms of NSSI in an attempt to get a parent or other responsible adult to notice that they’re in crisis. 

Is Teen Self-Injury Common?

Teens who cut themselves often go to great lengths to hide evidence of their behavior, which complicates the effort to determine exactly how prevalent this problem is. Also, rates can vary by age and location.

By any measure, though, self-injury seems to be somewhat common among adolescents and teenagers: 

• A September 2025 trend analysis in the journal Children found that the global rate of self-injury among adolescents was 20.2% in 2024. This represented a decrease from 2022 (when an estimated 21.7% of adolescents engaged in self-harm), but it was still higher than the pre-pandemic rate of 18% in 2018.
• A March 2010 review in The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine reported that about 15% of teens and 17%-35% of college students have engaged in NSSI. 
• The March 2010 study also found that rates of self-injury are much higher among people with borderline personality disorder (70%-75%), dissociative disorders (69%), and bulimia (26%-55%).

Warning Signs That Your Teen Is Cutting

Warning signs that your teen is cutting or engaging in other types of self-harm include:

• Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, even in warm weather
• Being hesitant or unwilling to change in front of other people
• Refusing to go swimming or engage in other activities that may expose certain body parts
• Habitually offering questionable explanations for so-called “accidental” injuries
• Having cuts, bruises, or other injuries that never seem to fully heal

Other signs that your teen may be struggling with their mental health and potentially at risk of self-harm:

• Noticeable shifts in mood, attitude, motivation, and/or energy
• Withdrawing and spending increasing amounts of time alone
• Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns
• No longer participating in activities that had been important to them
• Acting with uncharacteristic irritability, anger, and/or aggression
• Sudden drop in grades 
• Increased behavior problems in school
• Frequent headaches, stomach aches, and other symptoms that don’t have an identifiable medical cause
• Concerning statements such as wishing they had never been born or could simply disappear

How to Help a Teen Who Has Been Self-Injuring

Tips for helping a teen who has been cutting or injuring themselves in other ways include:

• Prioritize their safety: Though self-injury is not a suicide attempt, it can be a risk factor for suicide. Also, even controlled acts of self-harm can accidentally cause severe damage, including death. If you fear your teen is in imminent danger and you’re not sure where to turn, you can speak to a trained counselor 24/7 by calling or texting 988 (U.S. only) or visiting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website.
• Talk to your teen: Approach the conversation from a place of compassion and concern. Describe what you’ve been seeing and ask what you can do to help. Make a concerted effort to validate their feelings and avoid statements that could imply shame or guilt. Most importantly, let them know that you’re on their side. Self-injury is a health concern for you and your teen to confront together. It’s not a behavior problem that should be punished.
• Seek professional help: Self-injury is a complex challenge that often requires professional help. Therapy can help your teen identify and address the issues and concerns that contributed to their cutting. Therapy can also help them develop healthier coping skills and help you learn how to best support your teen during and after their time in treatment. 

Learn More About Treatment for Teen Self-Injury in Southern California

Located in Agora Hills, CA, Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center is a trusted source of personalized residential care for adolescents and teens ages 12-18 who have been struggling with self-harm and other mental and behavioral health concerns.

Young people who heal with us benefit from a dynamic approach that incorporates evidence-based therapies, customized academic support, and close coordination with parents. 

To learn more call 800-275-1707 or verify your insurance now.