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[quote=Anonymous]I am a school counselor. Many, many times, I have had a middle schooler tell me they cut (or starve themselves, or purge etc.) for relief, then tell their parent it was just experimentation or an idea they got from a friend. My two cents is that parents should take all of it seriously, without overreacting to the child. Let them disclose in a way that feels comfortable. I teach wellness and I fully explain the difference between stress and anxiety, and the kids still use those words interchangeably. Don't get caught up in the terminology. Just listen and assess. You know your child best. As drama seeking as middle school students are, they really do suffer deeply at times, and they almost all try to minimize it once they've disclosed their feelings. They tend to feel exposed and back pedal. And honestly, if the worst result is they get some unneeded therapy, it never hurts to give your child one on one time with a trained adult. We all can benefit from some extra coping strategies. The lessons themselves are not causing the issues. As a middle school counselor, I know they are internalizing these messages from everywhere. At least with lessons it highlights that there are specific adults who are in the know and can be approached for help.[/quote]

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