Can You See My Pain?

According to this production, nearly 3 million Americans routinely seek to ameliorate their emotional pain by inflicting physical pain upon themselves via cutting, scratching, burning, hitting, or excoriating. Seen principally among adolescent, white, middle-class females who seem to be relatively well-adjusted, this practice is psychologically complex and baffling to many, but this tape and its accompanying guide offer substantive background and treatment information so that loved ones can identify self-injury, respond appropriately, and take steps to help. Several women, aged 14 to 57, are interviewed (including the late Princess Diana), and professional, on-target comments are provided by the founders of SAFE (Self-Abuse Finally Ends) Alternatives Program. While the tape is rather expensive, the topic is receiving more and more attention in the media, and the inclusion of a comprehensively researched and written guide (which could circulate on its own) provides relatively good bang for the budget buck. Recommended, especially for those without similar fare such as Between the Lines (VL-5/99). Aud: J, H, C, P. (K. Glaser)