Self-Injury refers to the purposeful harming of one's body. The harm can occur though any means, and includes cutting, hitting, burning, head banging, bruising, choking, bone breaking, scratching, inferring with wound healing, and inserting objects into body openings.
Cutting oneself with a blade is the most common type of self Injury. The cutting tends to be localized to arms and legs, but can occur anywhere.Self injury is a somewhat compulsive behavior that helps a person cope. This is not a suicide attempt, although it may cause more harm than intended, possibly even death. This is a serious condition and not a manipulative or attention-seeking behavior.
The person may feel numb or "dead inside", have extreme difficulty expressing feelings, or find it easier to deal with the physical rather than the emotional pain. Some feel so at odds with their body that they carve reminders into their skin.
The causes of cutting are not entirely clear. There is evidence that deficient Serotonin levels are present in those who self-harm, most of whom are women .
Risk factors include childhood sexual abuse and/or incest. In addition, people who self-harm also report being discouraged from expressing emotions, specifically anger and sadness.
Often there are other mental illnesses present, including borderline personality disorder, depression, OCD, and/or bipolar disorder.
The warning signs of self-injury can be hard to see, as the person who injures herself tends to hide evidence of the behavior, as it often causes a great deal of guilt and shame.
This is a list of some signs to look for:
- History of past self-harm
- Regular small linear cuts
- Wearing long sleeves and pants, even in warm weather
- Frequent unexplained injuries
- Inability to manage day to day stressors
- Mood changes
When you suspect a friend or loved one self-harms, establishing open communication is the most important thing to do. It is important to use her language (i.e. cutting), and not to chastise or blame.
It is important to talk about geting help from a trained therapist to treat the underlying issues and learn better methods of coping.
Self-Injury is not going to go away overnight. Even with treatment harmful acts may occur, and it is vital that these do not get pushed even deeper into hiding.
There are several treatment options available, most likely a combination of interventions will be most affective.
- Traditional Outpatient Therapy, with a clinician trained in treating self-injury.
- Medication - Due to the risk factors, medication should be prescribed by a psychiatrist as opposed to general medical doctor.
- Treatment Programs - Include inpatient and outpatient group programs.
- Supportive Communities - These include Internet-based communities.
1-800-DONT CUT (1-800-366-8288)
This is NOT a crisis line. If you or someone needs immediate help it is best to call 911.This information lines provides information to those who harm themselves. It is a free service run by the SAFE Alternatives Program.
