Sarah Kalaba

Sarah Kalaba was one of these girls.She lost her brother when she was 5 years old and her parents were divorced shortly after.

At the age of 13, she began cutting herself.

"I just thought if I could get myself to hurt, I could get my emotions out," the 23-year-old said."I thought it was weak to cry and tell my mom and dad."

But her friends discovered her secret and told a teacher.

After seven years of cutting herself, Kalaba finally got help.
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Kalaba, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley but now lives in Alabama, would go outside to play with her dog, listen to music or go for a walk.

Now, she has formed the Sarah Kalaba Self Injury Foundation, a nonprofit group that helps those who can't afford expensive treatment.She also mentors those who want to talk to someone who has gone through this ordeal.

Sarah Kalaba, age 23, is a bright young woman pursuing a psychology major at the University of Alabama. She grew up in Northridge in what she describes as "a loving family with a mother and father that always put their children first and a brother that always had my back." Despite this, Sarah was struggling with negative feelings and thoughts of suicide. At age 13, unbeknownst to her family, she had started cutting herself with a razor in order to control these thoughts.
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Sarah entered therapy with Andrew and had group sessions with several other girls.
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After a few relapses, Sarah overcame her self-injury. She vividly remembers her final episode on November 28, 2003. Wanting to help other people with the same affliction, she founded the Sarah Kalaba Self-Injury Foundation (SKSIF). "As soon as it was brought up I thought it was a good idea," she said, "I thought, 'awesome, this is something I need to do.'"
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Sarah will fly in and she and Andrew will do talks with Q & A. We try to get parents aware of this."
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Today, Sarah is keeping herself busy with her studies. "I go to work full time and go to school full time out of state," she said, "I really hope that when I graduate and get my degree, I'll be able to begin residential treatment with Andrew."

In the meantime, she does get a chance to help some of her peers. "Some of the kids I work with will look at my scars and ask about them," she said, "Often times when I tell them, they'll say, 'I have a friend who does that.'"
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"Ultimately it was up to Sarah. She's a strong young woman and so determined. I absolutely admire her."

"Most people who do it think they are the only one but they are not alone," Sarah said.