teens who self-mutilate might not be who you expect. they're usually not outcasts or teens who outwardly show depression. instead, they are your "everyday" teen. they get good grades, have good friends, are involved in after-school activities, come from good families. so if they've got all of this going for them, why do they do it? often times it's a matter of these teens not having healthy ways to deal with conflict and so they bottle their emotions up inside. cutting and other types of self-mutilation give them a way to release their stress.