Salon | Letters to the editor

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_______________ LIVING UNDER THE KNIFE BY FIONA MORGAN (06/05/98)

As someone who spent a fair amount of time mutilating myself as a teenager, seeing my own blood flow and the calm that comes from intense pain is like an old friend. An abusive friend, but a friend nonetheless. I find it faintly amusing that this is commonly a female trait, but it wouldn't be the first I've shared.
While Levenkron's advice is admirable, the first thing I learned was never talk to a therapist, counselor or person in a position of authority about your problems. Therapists, and especially school counselors or teachers, are obligated by law to inform either the authorities or your parents if you are a "danger to yourself or others."
Vividly, I remember my parents (after being contacted by the school therapist) asking to see my day-old wrist wounds (being a Boy Scout, I bound them well, and they had already healed admirably) and scoffing, "That's nothing, barely a scratch. Is this some pathetic cry for help? Are you trying to get us in trouble?"
Inwardly, I responded, "I can't get you in trouble, every time you hurt me badly enough for it to show." Outwardly I said nothing. The humiliation of that moment was lesson enough.
I've been happily (more or less) estranged from my family for the past five years, but I still don't trust therapists. While my self-destructive tendencies have waned now that I am no longer being abused, I'm still convinced I'm too much of a "sick cookie" to put my faith in therapy.
-- Ethan Fremen
Cutting is not only a problem for teenage girls. I know because I used to cut myself. The review only mentioned girls, and I'm curious: Does Levenkron publish an estimate for the number of boys who mutilate themselves? Even if it's much less than 1 in 250, it's worth knowing.
-- Samuel Mikes
Lund, Sweden
_______________ AFRICAN AWAKENING BY VIVIENNE WALT (06/03/98)

The piece on female circumcision in Africa struck a real chord in me. I was appalled at the practice and also shocked that I had not already heard about it. To think that women must experience such indescribable pain twice in their lives and then live in fear of complications is so shocking to me that I can not relate to it. The fact that this practice is so widely accepted is even more incomprehensible, although I understand that tradition and cultural norms play a large part in this. I would like to commend Ms. Melching on her truly wonderful work. She is a brave and noble woman. Thank you for constantly improving our perspective on life.
-- Molly M. Mann
SALON | June 11, 1998

R E C E N T L Y+| SPRINGFIELD'S NATIVE SON BY SUSIE BRIGHT

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_______________ LIVING UNDER THE KNIFE BY FIONA MORGAN (06/05/98)
	As someone who spent a fair amount of time mutilating myself as a teenager, seeing my own blood flow and the calm that comes from intense pain is like an old friend. An abusive friend, but a friend nonetheless. I find it faintly amusing that this is commonly a female trait, but it wouldn't be the first I've shared. While Levenkron's advice is admirable, the first thing I learned was never talk to a therapist, counselor or person in a position of authority about your problems. Therapists, and especially school counselors or teachers, are obligated by law to inform either the authorities or your parents if you are a "danger to yourself or others." Vividly, I remember my parents (after being contacted by the school therapist) asking to see my day-old wrist wounds (being a Boy Scout, I bound them well, and they had already healed admirably) and scoffing, "That's nothing, barely a scratch. Is this some pathetic cry for help? Are you trying to get us in trouble?" Inwardly, I responded, "I can't get you in trouble, every time you hurt me badly enough for it to show." Outwardly I said nothing. The humiliation of that moment was lesson enough. I've been happily (more or less) estranged from my family for the past five years, but I still don't trust therapists. While my self-destructive tendencies have waned now that I am no longer being abused, I'm still convinced I'm too much of a "sick cookie" to put my faith in therapy. -- Ethan Fremen Cutting is not only a problem for teenage girls. I know because I used to cut myself. The review only mentioned girls, and I'm curious: Does Levenkron publish an estimate for the number of boys who mutilate themselves? Even if it's much less than 1 in 250, it's worth knowing. -- Samuel Mikes Lund, Sweden
_______________ AFRICAN AWAKENING BY VIVIENNE WALT (06/03/98)
	The piece on female circumcision in Africa struck a real chord in me. I was appalled at the practice and also shocked that I had not already heard about it. To think that women must experience such indescribable pain twice in their lives and then live in fear of complications is so shocking to me that I can not relate to it. The fact that this practice is so widely accepted is even more incomprehensible, although I understand that tradition and cultural norms play a large part in this. I would like to commend Ms. Melching on her truly wonderful work. She is a brave and noble woman. Thank you for constantly improving our perspective on life. -- Molly M. Mann SALON \| June 11, 1998