Sarah is a high school senior who has suffered from depression and had a tendancy to cut herself when under stress. She mentions she dealt with continual abuse as a child, which led her to isolating herself, crying and hiding and ultimately finding that cutting herself led to some relief.

She also describes dissociating; she does not remember aspects of the self injury process. She feels that she has made great progress with regards to self control but is still very fearful and says that cutting is still on the back of her mind

What would you like to know more about with regards to this client?
What about her family history would you like to know?
Why would a person find relief in cutting themselves?
What is the connection between childhood abuse and anxiety disorders?