Ladies and Gents, your input please!

[Dancing_in_rain]

Hello all!

I don't know if this is the perfect spot to post this but it's worth a try...

Well, for an English argumentative essay on teenage coping mechanisms, I have formulated the thesis that "Negative coping mechanisms are not specific to certain teen subcultures."

So basically, I'm dispelling myths that all goths are cutters, that all chavs drink constantly, etc.

Do you have any proof of the type for me? I'm going to divide this into questions about various negative coping mechanisms. Please remember that this will be anonymous...unless you are willing to give me interesting quotes I can footnote. Also, the essay is about coping mechanisms, not just your life in general. I understand that some of these questions can be very personal and that you may not want to answer them. That's absolutely fine. Any data is appreciated. Also, if you do not want to answer on a public forum, feel free to answer me at dancing_crimson_tears @ hotmail dot com


Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink?
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use?
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat?
-Frequently or only when coping with something?
-What will trigger you?

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure?
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly?
-What do you do?
-What do you use?
-Does anyone else know?
-What triggers you?

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide?
-Have you ever tried suicide?
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons?

If you have any others, the questions above can serve as guidelines.

Thank you very much for your answers! If you know people in other "subcultures" who might be willing to answer this, feel free to pass it on!

Of course, this is mainly directed at teenage members of the site (12-21 years old) but if any older forum members can connect to any of the topics from their adolescence, I will take that info too! But the overall subject is adolescent coping skills...

Thanks again everyone!

[Chazz]

Drink when I can that is not often, Do not do drugs or smoke but tried smoking and weed. Ive tried to commit suicide and I have cut myself for some severe family reasons.

[Dancing_in_rain]

Originally Posted by Chazz

Drink when I can that is not often, Do not do drugs or smoke but tried smoking and weed. Ive tried to commit suicide and I have cut myself for some severe family reasons.

Thank-you...however, how old are you? (Approximately - give me a three year range...and I'll take the middle number for data purposes)

[KontanKarite]

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? Never
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? Never
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Never
-Frequently or only when coping with something?
-What will trigger you?

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? burn
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? no
-What do you do? burn myself
-What do you use? lighter
-Does anyone else know? a couple friends
-What triggers you? Anger, being really sad, or just doing it because it's a rush. A bit of a BDSM in me.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Yes
-Have you ever tried suicide? Yes
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? Yes actually, with my father.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? No. Not for those reasons alone.

This is in accordance to what I can remember when I was 14-18 years old. I'm 23 now, so yeah. Use it as you will.

[killer_asian_Dax]

I'm just going by what I remember of my teen years.

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink?almost every night
-What do you generally drink?vodka mixed with (insert something here)
-What tends to trigger you?life, depression

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use?every other day or every few other days
-What do you use most often? pcp then crank then acid
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?Nope
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?depression
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?people I knew

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? under despite my vain attempts to over so I wouldn't look like I was using
-Frequently or only when coping with something? always
-What will trigger you? everything

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? was, and currently fighting the urge not to become again
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? did regularly
-What do you do?slice, scratch
-What do you use? misc. sharp objects
-Does anyone else know? nope
-What triggers you? extreme depression

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? yup
-Have you ever tried suicide?yup
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? nope

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? my parents sent me, but it did nothing


Good luck on your essay

[Miss Cogs]

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? I don't.
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? Never.
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Yes. Undereat.
-Frequently or only when coping with something? Either or. Last time I underate it was when I was I was trying to cope with something. Or sometimes, I do not eat because I do not feel like it.
-What will trigger you? Sadness. General feeling of 'sickness'. Feeling fat. Relationship problems.

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? At least once every month it seems like.
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? On and off.
-What do you do? Cut.
-What do you use? Dull knife.
-Does anyone else know? Yes.
-What triggers you? Sadness. Family conflicts. Relationship conflicts. The 'need' to cut.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Yes.
-Have you ever tried suicide? Yes.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? No.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? No. I see someone for other reasons.

I am 16. Good luck with your project.

[L'Oiseau Noir]

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? I've never even sipped alcohol before, as I'm strongly against it and find it vile. If you want to destroy your liver, that's on you.

-What do you generally drink? As stated, I don't drink. I usually only have Coca-Cola or some sort of juice, and the occasional Monster Energy Drink.

-What tends to trigger you? Nothing.

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
How often do you use? I hate drugs and everything about them. They're disgusting and should be done away with, somehow.

-What do you use most often? Since it is technically a drug, though, I usually drink caffeine, but I've never partook in marijuana or anything serious for the matter. Like I said, I despise drugs.

-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? I drink caffeine rather often, actually.

-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? Caffeine, because soda's good.

-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? Shoprite.

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Under eat, but I have my occasions where I'll eat a bit more. Nothing that'd be considered overeating, though.

-Frequently or only when coping with something? Whenever I'm really hungry.

-What will trigger you? Um, I like pizza?

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? I have NEVER, EVER tried to hurt myself! I'm a complete wimp when it comes to pain. Plus, it's bloody disgusting.

-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? Never have.

-What do you do? Nothing; the only self-harm I've ever done was when I sat down and watched "Step Up" in theaters with a former friend of mine.

-What do you use? Nothing, unless video games, anime, and writing is considered harmful to you.

-Does anyone else know? Everyone knows I love video games, anime, and writing.

-What triggers you? RPGs.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Nope, I love life and I wouldn't dare throw it away over some trivial means. If I die, I'd rather go in my sleep or, at the very least, go out with a flair; maybe being shot out of a cannon into a wall?

-Have you ever tried suicide? Nope, never.

-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? Lmao, no.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? I had to see a psychiatrist once because a girl in my school lied about me having had "threatened" her life. I was kicked out for a few days and had to get outside help... it was really, really annoying, but I got through it.

[Clockwork]

For the sake of your data.


Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? Just a small glass of wine with dinner for special occasions, like Thanksgiving.
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? Never
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? I under eat
-Frequently or only when coping with something? All the time
-What will trigger you? Laziness, or apathy? It's simply habit

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? Haven't in almost a year
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? No
-What do you do? Used to cut
-What do you use? Whatever sharp thing was near.
-Does anyone else know? Three people or so.
-What triggers you? Random bouts of overpowering sadness or hopelessness. Those have stopped too.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Thought about it, never seriously planned it.
-Have you ever tried suicide? No.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? No.

[viscus]

Originally Posted by L'Oiseau Noir

I've never even sipped alcohol before, as I'm strongly against it and find it vile. If you want to destroy your liver, that's on you.

Don't be obtuse. Moderate alcohol consumption doesn't harm the liver and in fact has a number of health benefits.

[L'Oiseau Noir]

Originally Posted by viscus

Don't be obtuse. Moderate alcohol consumption doesn't harm the liver and in fact has a number of health benefits.

Sorry, I just grew up with an alcoholic father and grew to hate it. Plus, my grandfather died from liver cancer a few years back from drinking too much.

My apologies, didn't mean to offend.

[Delkaetre]

Drink- not to cope with things, only socially
Drugs- not to cope with things, not socially either.
Self-harm- nope.
Eating issues- when I'm stressed and very busy with other things, I can end up forgetting to eat or only eating what's around the house (snacks), but I don't eat/purge/avoid food to feel better.
Suicide- nope.
Psychiatrist- trying to get an appointment with one to help my stress/fear issues, since they're getting to a level where they interfere with my ability to function in society. My own coping mechanisms, of suppressing or listening to music or ranting, are not helping as much as they used to.
I'm 19, by the way, and in my second year of university.

[StasisInDarkness]

First of all, I'm 18, female, etc. etc.

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? A few times a month.
-What do you generally drink? Rum and whiskey. I like my hard liquor. In the words of Elliott Smith, "...whiskey works better than beer."
-What tends to trigger you? Depression, feeling the need to self-destruct, wanting to get outside of my brain, wanting to lose
self-awareness for a little while.

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? A few times a month...
-What do you use most often? I use caffeine daily (but that doesn't really count, now, does it?) and weed every couple of weeks or so
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? Nope. I need more caffeine when I don't sleep (which is a frighteningly frequent occurrence, but, eh, what-ev)
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? Wanting to lose myself, all of the above reasons
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? My friends.

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? I was diagnosed with anorexia (binge-purge type) when I was 14, was hospitalized at 16, and, although "recovered" have been struggling with impulses and semi-regular symptomatic behavior since.
-Frequently or only when coping with something? Frequently
-What will trigger you? Feeling inadequate/worthless, being frustrated or angry, my mother (a caustic individual, I must say), feeling out of control of myself, being too busy or caught up in schoolwork (a convenient excuse, at any rate), and my ridiculous preoccupation with the Cult of Thinness...

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? Sometimes once a week, sometimes less
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? Fairly regularly
-What do you do? cut, burn, scratch. I pull out my eyebrow hair pretty obsessively, which may be more related to my OCD than anything else.
-What do you use? an X-Acto knife, a scalpel head (which I stole from my father's workplace), a lighter, a cigarette.
-Does anyone else know? Those I'm closest to.
-What triggers you? Intense emotions, especially guilt and anger. Usually it's this overwhelming need to punish myself for doing something that I find unacceptable, something that I'm incredibly guilty about but cannot express why (see: smoking after promising my boyfriend I'd give up drugs or eating a piece of cake after trying to restrict my caloric intake). It's a temporary solution to a permanent problem, it's cliched, I know, I know, but it works.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Yes.
-Have you ever tried suicide? Yes.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? With myself, yes. I plan to die before I'm 50. I just don't see a point in living past that age, really.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? Mreh, yeah, I've been seeing a psychiatrist and a psychologist and a nutritionist for five-plus years now. In my opinion, talk therapy is a load of shit, yet I've gotten A LOT better from pharmacological interventions (hurrah for Cymbalta!)


Mreh. Now that I've opened up a whole can of crazy on these boards, I sincerely hope you don't hate me...

[korinna5555]

I sent you an email..

[gothicusmaximus]

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink?
I don't.
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use?
I don't.
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat?
I don't.
-Frequently or only when coping with something?
-What will trigger you?

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure?
I don't.
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly?
-What do you do?
-What do you use?
-Does anyone else know?
-What triggers you?

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide?
Who hasn't? Yep.
-Have you ever tried suicide?
No.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?
No.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons?
No.

[Stormtrooper of Death]

Thanks to MINOR THREAT and THE TEEN IDLES, I'm straight edge. I don't drink, I don't do drugs. I have never considered suicide and I don't hurt myself, I don't binge either. I'm 17. There you go.

[Clockwork]

Bugger. Forgot to mention that I'm seventeen.

[d.Nox]

Speaking for my teenage self, "No to all of the above."

Things got a bit more interesting later on.

[Green.Lady]

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? Socially: once in a blue moon. Other: none.
-What do you generally drink? Socially: shots.
-What tends to trigger you? N/A

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? Never.
-What do you use most often? N/A
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? N/A
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? N/A
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? N/A

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? I do both, but undereat more often.
-Frequently or only when coping with something? Frequently.
-What will trigger you? Boredom (overeating) or just forgetting to eat lunch/breakfast (undereating). It's not a massive problem, though.

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? Once three years ago, never did it again.
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? Never.
-What do you do? Never since 3 years ago, but I cut myself that one time.
-What do you use? I used a razorblade.
-Does anyone else know? I did not tell a soul.
-What triggers you? Someone very close to me was in the hospital and I was having a very hard time with it. (again, 3 years ago)

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? yes
-Have you ever tried suicide? no
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? no

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? No.


I'm sixteen.

[spoon!]

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? I don't
-What do you generally drink? Nothing. I generally have either a soda or juice/milk.
-What tends to trigger you? Nothing

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? I don't
-What do you use most often? When I'm sick, whatever the doc prescribes me. Otherwise nothing
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? Nope
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? I don't
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? Nobody

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Undereat, but it's my own fault
-Frequently or only when coping with something? Neither. I just don't feel like eating at some points
-What will trigger you? Laziness

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? I don't, but there have been moments when I've thought about it
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? No
-What do you do? Nothing
-What do you use? N/A
-Does anyone else know? N/A
-What triggers you? N/A

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Nope
-Have you ever tried suicide? Nope
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? Nope

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? Nope

[gothicusmaximus]

I'm 18 and male, by the way.

[L'Oiseau Noir]

Ah, forgot to mention. I'm seventeen-years-old.

[Wormboy]

Originally Posted by L'Oiseau Noir

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? I've never even sipped alcohol before, as I'm strongly against it and find it vile. If you want to destroy your liver, that's on you.

-What do you generally drink? As stated, I don't drink. I usually only have Coca-Cola or some sort of juice, and the occasional Monster Energy Drink.

-What tends to trigger you? Nothing.

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
How often do you use? I hate drugs and everything about them. They're disgusting and should be done away with, somehow.

-What do you use most often? Since it is technically a drug, though, I usually drink caffeine, but I've never partook in marijuana or anything serious for the matter. Like I said, I despise drugs.

-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? I drink caffeine rather often, actually.

-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? Caffeine, because soda's good.

-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? Shoprite.

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Under eat, but I have my occasions where I'll eat a bit more. Nothing that'd be considered overeating, though.

-Frequently or only when coping with something? Whenever I'm really hungry.

-What will trigger you? Um, I like pizza?

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? I have NEVER, EVER tried to hurt myself! I'm a complete wimp when it comes to pain. Plus, it's bloody disgusting.

-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? Never have.

-What do you do? Nothing; the only self-harm I've ever done was when I sat down and watched "Step Up" in theaters with a former friend of mine.

-What do you use? Nothing, unless video games, anime, and writing is considered harmful to you.

-Does anyone else know? Everyone knows I love video games, anime, and writing.

-What triggers you? RPGs.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Nope, I love life and I wouldn't dare throw it away over some trivial means. If I die, I'd rather go in my sleep or, at the very least, go out with a flair; maybe being shot out of a cannon into a wall?

-Have you ever tried suicide? Nope, never.

-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? Lmao, no.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? I had to see a psychiatrist once because a girl in my school lied about me having had "threatened" her life. I was kicked out for a few days and had to get outside help... it was really, really annoying, but I got through it.

oh... my... god... you are the biggest goodie two shoes i have ever met in my entire life

[L'Oiseau Noir]

Originally Posted by Wormboy

oh... my... god... you are the biggest goodie two shoes i have ever met in my entire life

Get the fuck over it. D:

So I'm completely clean. Sue me for caring about my health.

[Wormboy]

Originally Posted by L'Oiseau Noir

Get the fuck over it. D:

So I'm completely clean. Sue me for caring about my health.

Caffeine is a really addictive drug that isn't to great for your health and there are a LOT of complaints on energy drinks' detrimental effects on the human body.

[Green.Lady]

Originally Posted by L'Oiseau Noir

Get the fuck over it. D:

So I'm completely clean. Sue me for caring about my health.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a drink now and then, as long as you don't get shitfaced on a regular basis. In moderation, alcohol does no harm and not drinking does not necessarily make you any healthier than someone who enjoys the occasional glass of wine. Also, it takes years of binge drinking to destroy your liver.