Many people are aware of the prevalence of cutting among teens, especially those with certain mental disorders or other issues. However, most are unfamiliar with the habit of self-embedding. This act, often underreported or ignored, is when kids take an object and inject it into their soft tissue and under their skin. Children have been reported to use staples, pencil lead, and various other objects. "One 18-year-old inserted 35 objects over a period of two years, including staples, a comb tooth, a fork tine, a cotter pin, and nail polish wands" (Kuchinskas). Often self-embedding is discovered by accident, during a check up or when the child is brought to the doctor because of an infection from the object. One study found that out of 600 people treated to remove objects from their soft tissue, 11 had deliberately inserted them (Ohio).
What is the cause behind this disturbing behavior? It's believed that self-embedding is similar to other forms of self-harm, both in its cause and implications. While it is deliberate, it is often a non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). People may self-harm for multiple reasons: as a relief to stress or anxiety, to express their distress, or because they learn it from those around them. Self-harm is also often a symptom of borderline personality disorder, although self-embedding can be present with other disorders or even with no disorder at all. Be sure to look for signs if you suspect your teen is self-embedding. If they no longer wear bathing suits in the summer or are extra diligent to cover themselves up, this can be an indicator. Talking to your teen at an early age is also a good idea, especially if they are somehow exposed to self-harm behaviors. Explaining what it is and what the negative effects are may help them to understand and prevent them from trying it. If you discover that your child is in fact self-embedding or self-harming, seek therapy for them immediately--take it seriously, for it is a serious matter.
source: Susan Kuchinskas, WebMD
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