I don't think being mature for her age helps much ... Self injury isn't really tied to immaturity. I was always told I was very "mature" for my age, and in some ways I was. I don't really think that effected my self injury at all. Likewise, while I would have definitely understood if someone had told me that self injury was bad, and not an acceptable option, the exposure is there all the same. It's not that I would have immediately said "oh, x cut, so I should go try that right now." But it would be some time when I was frustrated, and no matter what anyone had said about SI it was still there as an option.
I really do think it can have an effect. I was definitely always susceptible to self injury, considering the fact I've hurt myself in some way or another since I was very young, and I likely would have ended up cutting anyway. But when I was twelve I found out someone I really admired cut, and while he never glamorized it made a HUGE impression on me. No one would have ever guessed that I would be effected by something like that, but I was.
They have definitely shown that there is somewhat of a social aspect to self injury, that is you are more likely to struggle with self injury if someone else you know does first.
Another thing that I worry about in this situation is actually just her seeing your scars. A huge percentage of teenage girls self injure at some point, but generally it isn't very serious. If she is going to do that anyway seeing more serious scars to compare herself too could be really bad. I know that in the beginning my self injury was very mild, and it wasn't really until I realized other people went deeper that I felt I had to as well. If I had seen someone with a lot of scars as a kid I definitely would have strived for that.
I am sorry if I'm being too harsh. I realize that in the end there might not be much you can do to avoid this situation. Wearing long sleeves all summer might not be a possibility, and you might just have to tell her. It's not an ideal situation, but then again it's not an ideal world.
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