“Mia is a very troubled girl.” Dr. Kravitz is one of the doctors in charge at the hospital. He saw us right away when he’d heard what happened. He’s also seen Mia. “Of course, this all stems from the sexual abuse. It’s a very durable trauma, very significant in terms of Mia’s self-perception, especially when it occurs at such a young age. The self-loathing and disgust she’s expressed is typical. No matter what a parent does or doesn’t do, by fifteen the problem manifests itself. Kids don’t connect it, they don’t see the effects played out in their behavior. Like the cutting, for example. She has no idea why she did it, only that it made her feel better.” Why would she? Trained professionals twice her age didn’t. “Cutting serves many functions,” he continues. “It’s the embodiment of distrust of the body. It relieves tension. It’s a way of achieving mastery; it says I will control the harm inflicted on me. It had nothing to do with communication problems with you.”
