1. LETTING IT OUT DOESN’T HAVE TO LEAVE A SCAR GUIDANCE LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 2, 2015

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPywu4wldXM

3. SELF-HARM AND CUTTING CUTTING IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT AFFECTS MANY TEENS IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD ABOUT CUTTING, CHANCES ARE YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES IT.

4. SELF-HARM AND CUTTING LIKE OTHER RISKY BEHAVIORS, CUTTING CAN BE DANGEROUS AND HABIT- FORMING IT IS A SIGN OF DEEPER EMOTIONAL DISTRESS PEERS CAN INFLUENCE FRIENDS TO EXPERIMENT WITH CUTTING

5. SELF-HARM AND CUTTING CUTTING CAN BEGIN AS AN IMPULSE BUT MANY TEENS DISCOVER THAT ONCE THEY START TO CUT, THEY DO IT MORE AND MORE, AND CAN HAVE TROUBLE STOPPING

6. SELF-HARM AND CUTTING ALL TEENS EXPERIENCE POWERFUL EMOTIONS. MANY TEENS ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO COPE WITH THESE INTENSE EMOTIONS. FINDING A HEALTHY WAY TO DEAL WITH THESE INTENSE EMOTIONS AND SOCIETAL PRESSURES IS VERY IMPORTANT.

7. SELF-HARM AND CUTTING CUTTING IS A NEGATIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH STRESS AND STRONG EMOTIONS JUST LIKE CHOOSING TO USE DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.

8. LIFE IS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER Good Times Bad Times Good Times Bad Times

9. LIFE IS LIKE ROLLER COASTER….MAYBE Good Times Bad Times – Coping Mechanisms: Cutting; Drugs, Alcohol

10. LIFE IS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER…WOO HOO! Good Times Bad Times – Coping Mechanisms: Music, Exercise, Coloring, Friends, Journaling

11. ALTERNATIVES TO SELF HARM GO TO THE GYM, DANCE, OR EXERCISE WRITE YOUR FEELINGS DOWN ON PAPER AND RIP IT UP DOODLE ON SHEETS OF PAPER WRITE OUT LYRICS TO YOUR FAVORITE SONG LISTEN TO MUSIC MEMORIZE A POEM WITH MEANING

12. ALTERNATIVES TO SELF HARM GO OUTSIDE AND WATCH THE CLOUDS GO BY RE-ORGANIZE YOUR ROOM DRAW, PAINT OR COLOR REMEMBER A HAPPY MOMENT AND RELIVE IT IN YOUR THOUGHTS YOU-TUBE FUNNY VIDEOS ALLOW YOURSELF TO CRY

13. ALTERNATIVES TO SELF HARM REPEAT TO YOURSELF, “I DON’T DESERVE TO HURT,” UNTIL YOU BELIEVE IT!

14. WHAT TO DO COME SEE MRS. CUTRER OR MRS. MONTFORT IF YOU OR SOMEBODY YOU KNOW IS CUTTING DO NOT SPREAD RUMORS OR GOSSIP ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHO ARE CUTTING…IT CAN MAKE IT WORSE. RESPECT EACH OTHER BY LIFTING EACH OTHER UP…NOT TEARING EACH OTHER DOWN.