tantrums

I'm the mother of two boys( 4yrs. and 7mons.) My 4yr. old recently had a temper tantrum and he said " I"m going to hurt myself". He scratched his wrist.  He has had tantrums before but never said he was going to hurt himself .   I'm extremely concern.  

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

When children are calm, not in a tantrum, and announce some intention to harm themselves, it may be a cause for concern. But when such comments occur during a tantrum they generally do not indicate a desire for self-harm. By their very nature tantrums are not rational episodes. They represent out-of-control emotional states and comments made during them are not serious intentions.