princesstabitha wrote:

OK.  I have this friend who's niece lives with him.  When he isn't around or she thinks he is asleep, she is in the bathroom constantly.  Sometimes as many as five times in an hour.  There is no water running, she doesn't use the bathroom, you don't hear any movement.  It is completely still in there.  He thinks it is a habit (drugs).  I'm pretty sure that it isn't.  There are no other signs of a habit.  Even if she had one, she would not have a way to feed it. He keeps her so isolated.  She can't drive, has no friends, isn't allowed to go out, he keeps all of her things, etc...  Plus, I grew up with addicts, she has none of the behavioral or body signs of one.  My guess is self mutilation.  She will randomly change into sweat clothes after coming out of the bathroom, when it is 80+ degrees outside; then go turn down the air conditioner.  What do you all think? And should I say anything to him?

Cutter's don't need to go to the bathroom to cut. they can do it anywhere. Now, if her bedroom doesn't have a lock on it, yea she could go to the bathroom for privacy. You would have to see her legs and arms to determine this...its pretty easy to detect. And no, they don't tell you when you ask them, they make up reasons why they have cuts all over them.

And self- mutation is an addiction, but you say she doesn't behave like an addict.

and if he's so controlling, i wouldn't say anything to him because it would make the situation worse, don't you think?

Is there a mirror in her room where she can see herself? Or just the bathroom has one?

And if she's loaded when she comes out of the bathroom, then wouldn't he notice?