What is Self-Injury?

Self-Injury is also termed self-mutilation, self-harm or self-abuse. The behavior is defined as the deliberate, repetitive, impulsive, non-lethal harming of one’s self. Self-injury includes:

• Cutting
• Scratching
• Picking scabs or interfering with wound healing
• Burning
• Punching self or objects
• Infecting oneself
• Inserting objects in body openings
• Bruising or breaking bones
• Some forms of hair-pulling, as well as other various forms of bodily harm

These behaviors, which pose serious risks, may by symptoms of a mental health problem that can be treated.

For more information: http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/selfinjury.cfm

Does Self-Injury lead to suicide?

Self-injury is the deliberate damaging of body tissue without the eventual intention of suicide. Self-injury is often mistaken as a failed suicide attempt, and while there are many self-injurers who are also suicidal, research shows that by far the majority of self-injurers have not considered suicide. This is one false assumption that seems to naturally occur amongst people who are unaware of self-injury.

For more information: http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Self_Injury/healingtouch/facts.htm

Do Self-Injurers intend to harm themselves?

The 'technical stuff' aside, self-injury is not the 'problem' for many injurers.  It is the feelings and reasons behind the cutting that are the main problems.  Many self-injurers find it extremely difficult to express their reasons for self-injury to any specific level, which is why counseling and therapy can be so beneficial to self-injurers. 

For more information: http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Self_Injury/healingtouch/facts.htm

What is the cause of self-injury?

 Self-injury is often combined with feelings of guilt, helplessness, rejection, self-hatred, anger, failure and loneliness.  Often these feelings stem from past or present influential events (e.g. sexual abuse, domestic violence, divorce of parents, death of loved ones, lack of care as a child, parental depression, alcoholism or critical behavior, etc.).  It must be stressed though, that often the reasons for self-harming are not as easy to pinpoint as these causes.

For more information: http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Self_Injury/healingtouch/facts.htm

Why does anyone self-injure?

The cause of self-injury is highly complex. There has been some attempt to simplify the reason behind the behavior by saying it is “to relieve stress.” However, there is a high correlation between the incidences of cutting among survivors of sexual abuse. The more severe the abuse, the more severe the “self-abuse.” These kinds of correlations point to the complex interaction between the person and his/her environment and the need to closely examine the life circumstances surrounding one who self-abuses.

In light of trying to put forth a general understanding of self-abuse, those that practice these self-abusive behaviors do so in an attempt to release stress, pain, fear or anxiety. Generally practiced by teen girls – but affects at least 11 thousand boys a year as well – the teen may feel out of control regarding their life and practice these behaviors in an attempt to regain that control. Some teens state that it “feels good to be in charge of your own pain when so many others try to do it for you.”

For more information: http://ct.essortment.com/whatisselfmut_rfyb.htm

Who self-injures? Psychological Characteristics of Self-Injurers

The overall picture seems to be of people who:

• Have been sexually abused
• Strongly dislike/invalidate themselves
• Have difficulty putting their feelings into words, so they concretize them by putting them in their bodies, thus acting out their emotions in a tangible way
• Are hypersensitive to rejection are chronically angry, usually at themselves
• Tend to suppress their anger
• Have high levels of aggressive feelings, which they disapprove of strongly and often suppress or direct inward
• Are more impulsive and more lacking in impulse control then their peers
• Tend to act in accordance with their mood of the moment
• Tend not to plan for the future
• Are often depressed, suicidal and self-destructive
• Suffer chronic anxiety
• Tend toward irritability
• Do not see themselves as skilled at coping
• Do not have a flexible repertoire of coping skills
• Do not think they have much control over how/whether they cope with life
• Tend to be avoidant
• Do not see themselves as empowered
• Do not regulate their emotions well, and there seems to be a biologically based impulsivity.

For more information: http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Self_Injury/Site/...

What are the warning signs?

Warning signs that someone is injuring himself or herself include:

• Unexplained frequent injury including cuts and burns
• Wearing long pants and sleeves in warm weather
• Low self-esteem
• Difficulty handling feelings
• Relationship problems
• Poor functioning at work, school or home.

For more information: http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/selfinjury.cfm

What sort of treatment is recommended for Self-Injury?

Self-injury treatment options include outpatient therapy, partial (6-12 hours a day) and inpatient hospitalization. When the behaviors interfere with daily living, such as employment, school and relationships, and or are health or life threatening, a specialized self-injury hospital program with experienced staff is recommended.

The effective treatment of self-injury is most often a combination of medication, psychodynamic therapy, which necessarily includes aspects of Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and interpersonal therapy, supplemented by other treatment services as needed.

Medication is often useful in the management of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and the racing thoughts that may accompany self-injury. Cognitive/behavioral therapy that incorporates contracts, journals, and behavioral logs are useful tools for regaining self-control. Interpersonal therapy assists individuals in gaining insight and skills for the development and maintenance of relationships, and helps individuals understand their destructive thoughts and behaviors. Services for eating disorders, alcohol/substance abuse, trauma abuse, and family therapy should be readily available and integrated into treatment, depending on individual needs.