If someone tells a therapist or doctor about cutting occasionally to relieve stress, will they "put the cutter away" or send the person for an evaluation at a hospital? – Emmie* When you're thinking of confiding in a therapist, doctor, or parent, it's natural to worry or wonder about what will happen next. In almost every situation, cutting and the issues surrounding it can be cared for in a therapist's office — without going to a hospital. To set your mind at ease, tell your therapist that being hospitalized is something you are concerned about. Ask your therapist to explain to you the types of very rare occasions when someone might need to get treatment at a hospital. That should reassure you and help you feel comfortable opening up. Telling someone about cutting can take courage, honesty, maturity, and trust. It's a healthy step that can lead to talking more about the things that stress you, receiving understanding and support, and getting the most from working with a therapist. Talking about cutting with a therapist can help a person find ways to relieve pressure and stress without self-injuring. *Names have been changed to protect user privacy. Back to Articles Related Articles Teens Talk About Cutting We get lots of comments about our cutting articles. Because many of our readers' suggestions and comments are so helpful, we decided to put a few on our site. Read More Cutting It can be hard to understand, but people who cut themselves sometimes do it because it actually makes them feel better. They are overflowing with emotions - like sadness, depression, or anger - that they have trouble expressing. Read More How Can I Stop Cutting? If you've been cutting and you want to stop, here are some approaches that might help you. Read More Stress & Coping Center Visit our stress and coping center for advice on how to handle stress, including different stressful situations. Read More Finding Low-Cost Mental Health Care If you need mental health care but don't think you can afford it, you're not alone. Get tips on finding low-cost or free mental health care in this article for teens. Read More Going to a Therapist Getting help with emotions or stress is the same as getting help with a medical problem like asthma or diabetes. This article explains how therapy works and how it can help with problems. Read More I Started Cutting Again. How Can I Stop? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.