Cover Story

YouthBuilders Founder
Discusses Self-Mutilation

Jim Burns speaks to more than 1 million people through his radio program, "HomeWord with Jim Burns." 1,000 radio stations nationwide air his program.
--HomeWord Ministries, photo

Jim Burns, Ph.D., recently spoke with The Voice about cutting and self-injury. He described his experience with "cutters" and offered a Christian leader's perspective on the coping technique that an increasing number of people are resorting to.

਍䐀爀⸀ 䈀甀爀渀猀 昀漀甀渀搀攀搀 夀漀甀琀栀 䈀甀椀氀搀攀爀猀 洀椀渀椀猀琀爀礀Ⰰ 渀漀眀 欀渀漀眀渀 愀猀 䠀漀洀攀圀漀爀搀Ⰰ 椀渀 ㄀㤀㠀㔀⸀  䠀攀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀猀 瀀爀愀挀琀椀挀愀氀 眀愀礀猀 琀漀 氀椀瘀攀 漀甀琀 戀椀戀氀椀挀愀氀 琀爀甀琀栀猀 搀甀爀椀渀最 搀愀椀氀礀 栀愀氀昀ⴀ栀漀甀爀Ⰰ 搀愀椀氀礀 漀渀攀ⴀ洀椀渀甀琀攀 愀渀搀 眀攀攀欀氀礀 栀愀氀昀ⴀ栀漀甀爀 爀愀搀椀漀 瀀爀漀最爀愀洀猀Ⰰ ∀䠀漀洀攀圀漀爀搀 眀椀琀栀 䨀椀洀 䈀甀爀渀猀Ⰰ∀ 琀栀愀琀 愀椀爀 漀渀 渀攀愀爀氀礀 ㄀Ⰰ　　　 爀愀搀椀漀 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀猀 渀愀琀椀漀渀眀椀搀攀 琀漀 洀漀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 ㄀ 洀椀氀氀椀漀渀 氀椀猀琀攀渀攀爀猀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ As author of books such as "Addicted to God," "Surviving Adolescence" and "Radical Christianity," Dr. Burns also wrote "Youth Builders Group Bible Study series."

਍䄀昀琀攀爀 ㈀㄀ 礀攀愀爀猀 漀昀 攀焀甀椀瀀瀀椀渀最 愀搀甀氀琀猀 琀漀 搀椀猀挀椀瀀氀攀 琀漀搀愀礀✀猀 礀漀甀琀栀Ⰰ 䐀爀⸀ 䈀甀爀渀猀✀ 瀀攀攀爀猀 爀攀猀瀀攀挀琀 栀椀洀 愀猀 愀渀 攀砀瀀攀爀琀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀爀攀愀 漀昀 礀漀甀琀栀 洀椀渀椀猀琀爀礀Ⰰ 昀愀洀椀氀礀 愀渀搀 瀀愀爀攀渀琀椀渀最 椀猀猀甀攀猀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ The Voice: When did you start seeing the first cases of cutting or self-injury?

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀䨀椀洀 㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀䈀甀爀渀猀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 圀攀氀氀Ⰰ 椀琀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 昀漀爀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 昀椀爀猀琀 栀攀愀爀搀 漀昀 椀琀 椀渀 琀栀攀 氀愀琀攀 ᠀㜠　猀 眀栀攀渀 䤀 眀愀猀 愀 礀漀甀琀栀 瀀愀猀琀漀爀⸀ 䄀 最椀爀氀 椀渀 洀礀 礀漀甀琀栀 最爀漀甀瀀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 愀戀甀猀攀搀 愀渀搀 猀甀昀昀攀爀攀搀 昀爀漀洀 愀 洀甀氀琀椀瀀氀攀 瀀攀爀猀漀渀愀氀椀琀礀 搀椀猀漀爀搀攀爀Ⰰ 搀攀愀氀琀 眀椀琀栀 栀攀爀 椀渀琀攀爀渀愀氀 瀀愀椀渀 戀礀 挀甀琀琀椀渀最 栀攀爀 戀漀搀礀⸀ 䤀 栀愀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀 栀攀愀爀搀 愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 漀爀 攀渀挀漀甀渀琀攀爀攀搀 椀琀 椀渀 洀礀 攀搀甀挀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 戀愀挀欀最爀漀甀渀搀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ The Voice: Do you think the problem is growing?

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀䈀甀爀渀猀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 䄀戀猀漀氀甀琀攀氀礀⸀ 䤀琀✀猀 搀攀昀椀渀椀琀攀氀礀 最爀漀眀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 椀琀✀猀 氀椀欀攀 猀甀椀挀椀搀攀 椀渀 琀栀愀琀Ⰰ 椀昀 猀漀洀攀戀漀搀礀 愀琀琀攀洀瀀琀猀 猀甀椀挀椀搀攀 椀渀 愀 猀挀栀漀漀氀 漀爀 渀攀椀最栀戀漀爀栀漀漀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 挀漀瀀礀ⴀ挀愀琀猀 猀甀爀昀愀挀攀⸀ 匀漀Ⰰ 愀猀 挀攀爀琀愀椀渀 琀礀瀀攀猀 漀昀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ椀渀樀甀爀礀 最攀琀 洀漀爀攀 愀琀琀攀渀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 猀攀攀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 挀漀瀀礀椀渀最 琀栀漀猀攀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ For example, people used to burn themselves with cigarettes, which is the same form of self-injury you see with cutting. Although some still burn themselves, cutting seems to be more popular now.

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀吀栀攀 嘀漀椀挀攀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 圀漀甀氀搀 礀漀甀 猀愀礀 琀栀椀猀  瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀 椀猀 猀瀀攀挀椀昀椀挀 琀漀 挀攀爀琀愀椀渀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀㼀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Burns: It is widespread, and yet, what's fascinating is that some people would describe eating disorders and cutting as "Christian" ways to deal with their pain because they're not getting drunk or having [premarital] sex or whatever. And so you do find a lot of Christian kids --well, actually adults too--who use this as a way to deal with inner pain or trauma.

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀吀栀攀 嘀漀椀挀攀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 䠀愀瘀攀 礀漀甀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 猀椀洀椀氀愀爀椀琀椀攀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀最攀猀 漀昀 挀甀琀琀攀爀猀㼀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Burns: It doesn't happen with little kids typically. It happens with teens, or pre-teens. We think, as we often notice with issues like this, that we'll begin to see self-injury cases at younger and younger ages.

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀吀栀攀 嘀漀椀挀攀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 䐀漀攀猀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀 爀攀氀愀琀攀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 眀漀洀攀渀 漀爀 洀攀渀㼀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Burns: Typically we've said it relates more to women, and I have had more involvement with women [concerning this issue], but I recently read an article saying that men do this almost as much as women. I was surprised because that has not been my experience.

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀吀栀攀 嘀漀椀挀攀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 䐀漀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 攀洀戀爀愀挀攀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ椀渀樀甀爀礀 氀漀渀最ⴀ琀攀爀洀Ⰰ 漀爀 椀猀 愀 瀀栀愀猀攀㼀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Burns: Both. I had an experience with a junior higher who was barely cutting herself; it was hardly noticeable. When we talked, she said her friend was into it and thought it was cool; so she was only trying it out.

਍䤀渀 猀漀洀攀 眀愀礀猀Ⰰ 猀栀攀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 攀瘀攀渀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀礀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 搀漀椀渀最 椀琀㬀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 椀渀琀爀椀最甀攀搀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ That's where I kind of see it as a phase. People see friends doing it and hear them saying, "Yeah, this has worked for me," but then the practice becomes a weird addiction.

਍圀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 氀漀漀欀 愀琀 嬀氀漀渀最ⴀ琀攀爀洀崀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ椀渀樀甀爀礀 挀愀猀攀猀Ⰰ 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 眀椀氀氀 琀攀氀氀 礀漀甀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀礀 搀漀渀✀琀 攀瘀攀渀 昀攀攀氀 琀栀攀 瀀愀椀渀 昀爀漀洀 挀甀琀琀椀渀最㬀 猀漀洀攀 猀愀礀 琀栀攀 瀀愀椀渀 昀攀攀氀猀 最漀漀搀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 椀琀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀攀猀 愀 欀椀渀搀 漀昀 攀甀瀀栀漀爀椀愀⸀ 䤀琀 眀漀爀欀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀洀⸀ 倀攀漀瀀氀攀 琀甀爀渀 琀漀 氀漀渀最ⴀ琀攀爀洀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ椀渀樀甀爀礀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 椀琀 眀漀爀欀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 椀琀 挀愀渀 戀攀 挀漀甀渀琀攀搀 漀渀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 琀栀攀洀 昀攀攀氀 最漀漀搀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ The Voice: Generally, do people keep these behaviors private?

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀䈀甀爀渀猀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 吀栀攀礀 搀漀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 琀栀攀爀攀✀猀 愀 猀栀愀洀攀 攀氀攀洀攀渀琀 椀渀 椀琀⸀ 匀漀洀攀戀漀搀礀 眀攀愀爀椀渀最 氀漀渀最 猀氀攀攀瘀攀猀 眀栀攀渀 椀琀✀猀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 栀漀琀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 洀椀最栀琀 戀攀 挀漀瘀攀爀椀渀最 甀瀀 琀栀攀椀爀 戀漀搀礀 嬀眀漀甀渀搀猀崀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 愀 眀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀礀 欀渀漀眀 椀琀✀猀 甀最氀礀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 嬀猀攀氀昀ⴀ椀渀樀甀爀礀崀 洀愀礀 戀攀 漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 琀栀椀渀最猀 琀栀愀琀✀猀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 眀漀爀欀攀搀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀洀 椀渀 渀甀洀戀椀渀最 攀洀漀琀椀漀渀愀氀 瀀愀椀渀⸀ 㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ The Voice: What societal shifts are motivating this behavior in people?

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀䈀甀爀渀猀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 吀栀愀琀✀猀 琀栀攀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀⸀  匀琀甀搀椀攀猀 愀爀攀 猀栀漀眀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 欀椀搀猀 愀爀攀 洀漀爀攀 搀攀瀀爀攀猀猀攀搀 琀栀愀渀 攀瘀攀爀 戀攀昀漀爀攀ⴀⴀ琀攀攀渀猀 攀猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀氀礀ⴀⴀ愀渀搀 琀栀攀礀 搀漀渀✀琀 欀渀漀眀 栀漀眀 琀漀 栀愀渀搀氀攀 琀栀攀椀爀 爀愀最攀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀椀爀 愀渀最猀琀 愀戀漀甀琀 氀椀昀攀⸀ 圀攀✀爀攀 猀攀攀椀渀最 渀攀最愀琀椀瘀攀 挀漀瀀椀渀最 洀攀琀栀漀搀猀 猀甀爀昀愀挀攀⸀  䤀 琀栀椀渀欀 椀琀✀猀 琀栀攀 渀愀琀甀爀愀氀 瀀爀漀最爀攀猀猀椀漀渀 漀昀 愀 搀攀琀攀爀椀漀爀愀琀椀渀最 挀甀氀琀甀爀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 嬀猀攀氀昀ⴀ椀渀樀甀爀礀崀 攀砀栀椀戀椀琀猀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 猀攀攀欀椀渀最 愀 昀愀氀猀攀 猀攀渀猀攀 漀昀 栀愀瀀瀀椀渀攀猀猀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ The Voice: Why don't kids know how to handle their rage?

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀䈀甀爀渀猀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 䤀 眀椀猀栀 䤀 挀漀甀氀搀 洀愀欀攀 琀栀愀琀 猀椀洀瀀氀攀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 琀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 愀 氀漀琀 漀昀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 眀栀漀 搀漀 眀栀愀琀 䤀 搀漀ⴀⴀ戀氀愀洀攀 瀀愀爀攀渀琀猀ⴀⴀ愀渀搀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 琀栀愀琀 椀猀 琀爀甀攀㬀 愀 氀漀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀猀攀 欀椀搀猀 栀愀瘀攀 瀀漀漀爀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀椀爀 瀀愀爀攀渀琀猀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Kids today are making major decisions at very young ages, and they're not able to make wise decisions. Kids are having sex at earlier ages; kids are drinking at earlier ages, etc. The resulting low self-image affects their primary relationships--relationships with God, family, friends and their own bodies.

਍圀栀攀渀 琀栀漀猀攀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀猀 愀爀攀 渀攀最愀琀椀瘀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀 攀渀最愀最攀 椀渀 渀攀最愀琀椀瘀攀 攀猀挀愀瀀攀 戀攀栀愀瘀椀漀爀猀⸀ 匀攀氀昀ⴀ椀渀樀甀爀礀 椀猀 愀 渀攀最愀琀椀瘀攀 攀猀挀愀瀀攀 戀攀栀愀瘀椀漀爀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ The Voice: Do you see this issue more with Christian kids than with non-Christian?

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀䈀甀爀渀猀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 䤀 琀栀椀渀欀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀椀愀渀 欀椀搀猀 眀椀氀氀 琀攀渀搀 琀漀 嬀猀攀氀昀ⴀ椀渀樀甀爀攀崀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 椀琀✀猀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 琀栀攀礀 挀愀渀 搀漀 椀渀 瀀爀椀瘀愀琀攀⸀  䤀琀✀猀 渀漀琀 愀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀椀愀渀 搀椀猀攀愀猀攀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 猀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 搀漀 琀栀椀渀欀 琀栀愀琀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀椀愀渀猀 眀栀漀 愀爀攀 栀甀爀琀椀渀最 栀愀瘀攀 攀洀戀爀愀挀攀搀 琀栀椀猀 嬀挀漀瀀椀渀最 琀攀挀栀渀椀焀甀攀崀 昀漀爀 猀漀洀攀 爀攀愀猀漀渀⸀ 㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ The Voice: What would you say, then, to Christians who choose to injure themselves; what can help?

਍㰀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀䈀甀爀渀猀㨀㰀⼀匀吀刀伀一䜀㸀 䘀椀爀猀琀 漀昀 愀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 最椀瘀攀 琀栀攀洀 愀 最爀攀愀琀 愀洀漀甀渀琀 漀昀 氀漀瘀攀 愀渀搀 最爀愀挀攀⸀  圀攀 搀漀 渀漀琀 搀漀 眀攀氀氀 眀栀攀渀 眀攀 猀愀礀Ⰰ ∀䤀 挀愀渀✀琀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀 礀漀甀✀爀攀 搀漀椀渀最 琀栀椀猀㬀 琀栀椀猀 椀猀 猀漀 猀琀甀瀀椀搀⸀∀ 吀栀愀琀 漀渀氀礀 洀愀欀攀猀 琀栀攀洀 昀攀攀氀 眀漀爀猀攀⸀ 㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ The shortest verse in the Bible says, "Jesus wept." He wept at the death of his friend, and I think that Jesus cares for the deeper needs of people. The issue isn'Tt cutting; the real issue goes deeper.

਍唀渀昀漀爀琀甀渀愀琀攀氀礀Ⰰ 愀 氀漀琀 漀昀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 愀爀攀 愀昀爀愀椀搀 琀漀 爀攀瘀攀愀氀 琀栀攀 猀漀甀爀挀攀 漀昀 琀栀愀琀 琀爀甀攀 瀀愀椀渀⸀  㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ This is the way [self-injurers] cope with their pain and their stress. You may cope with your stress by going running or something, but this is how they learned to cope.

਍夀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 琀攀愀挀栀 琀栀攀洀 栀漀眀 琀漀 挀漀瀀攀 瀀爀漀瀀攀爀氀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 挀愀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 欀攀礀 椀猀猀甀攀猀관ⴀⴀ琀栀攀 琀栀椀渀最猀 琀栀愀琀 愀爀攀 挀愀甀猀椀渀最 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 琀漀 椀渀樀甀爀攀 琀栀攀洀猀攀氀瘀攀猀⸀ഀ

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