Injuries inflicted by oneself: explanations, triggers, symptoms, and methods for assistance
Self-harm, a distressing and often hidden issue, is a significant concern among teenagers and young adults. It refers to the intentional harm of one's own body, without the intent to end life.
The most common methods of self-harm include skin cutting, head banging or hitting, and burning. It's important to note that people who self-harm often use more than one method, and injuries most commonly occur on arms, legs, torso, scalp, and other easily accessible areas.
Self-harm is a maladaptive coping mechanism, causing mental and physical harm in the long term. Common reasons for self-harm include coping with intense emotional distress, regaining a sense of control, expressing feelings that are hard to verbalize, and managing psychological pain.
Signs of self-harm can be subtle but may include frequent unexplained injuries, withdrawal, eating disorders, worsening difficulties in relationships, and low self-esteem. Other indicators might be spending a lot of time alone, wearing long sleeves or pants even in hot weather to cover injuries, and behavioural and emotional instability. Fresh wounds or scars and broken bones may also be indicators.
Self-harm is not typically an attention-seeking behaviour but rather a way to manage overwhelming emotional pain and regain emotional regulation. Repeated self-injury, however, increases the risk of future suicidal behaviour.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of serious self-harm or suicide, it's crucial to seek help immediately. In the United States, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, or 800-799-4889 for those who are hard of hearing. For those seeking support for self-harm, S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Self-Abuse Finally Ends) has an information line available at 1-800-DONT-CUT or 1-800-366-8288, and their website is www.selfinjury.com.
People with mental health conditions, particularly those with obsessive thoughts or compulsive behavior, are more likely to self-harm. Young people who belong to a sexual minority, such as those who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, are also more likely to self-harm.
Seeking professional support is beneficial for individuals who self-harm, even if they have a trusted friend or adult they can talk to. Treatment for self-inflicted injury will vary from one person to another and may include psychotherapy, medication, treatment for co-occurring conditions, and outpatient therapy.
In addition to professional help, finding temporary substitutes for usual methods of self-harm can be helpful when other methods of managing emotions are not possible or not helping. This could include gently snapping an elastic band on the wrist, rubbing an ice cube on the skin, or drawing on the skin where a person would typically cut.
Distraction techniques, such as calling a friend, going for a walk, doing something creative, playing with an animal, watching comforting TV shows or movies, can help avoid self-harm until the urge passes. Removing any self-harm equipment, such as sharp objects, hazardous liquids, or other items, should be done to prevent further harm.
Releasing pent-up feelings through crying, screaming, punching a pillow, scribbling on or ripping up paper, or "venting" feelings by writing them down or talking to someone, can help manage difficult emotions.
A 2013 study reports that students who self-injured at the beginning of the study who did not report suicidal thoughts, but who subsequently engaged in 20 or more self-injuring behaviours, were 3.4 times more likely to attempt suicide by the end of the study 3 years later. Awareness of these signs and underlying causes is crucial for timely intervention and support.
In conclusion, understanding self-harm is essential to providing support and care for those affected. If you suspect someone you know is self-harming, it's important to approach them with empathy and offer help. Encourage them to seek professional help, and be patient and understanding as they navigate their recovery journey.
- Self-harm, a practice often concealed, is prevalent among teenagers and young adults, involving acts that intentionally harm one's own body, without the desire to die.
- Frequent self-harm methods include skin cutting, head banging or hitting, and burning, with multiple methods used by those who self-harm and injuries typically appearing on accessible body parts like arms, legs, torso, scalp, and others.
- Self-harm functions as a maladaptive coping mechanism, leading to both mental and physical harm over time, with reasons such as dealing with intense emotional distress, regaining a sense of control, and managing psychological pain being common.
- Evidence of self-harm can be discreet, but may include recurring unexplained injuries, withdrawal, eating disorders, tumultuous relationships, low self-esteem, spending a lot of time alone, and wearing clothes to cover injuries when the weather is warm.
- Mental health conditions, particularly those characterized by obsessive thoughts or compulsive behavior, may increase the likelihood of self-harm, with young people from sexual minorities also at a higher risk.
- Seeking specialized assistance is advantageous for individuals who self-harm; treatments can involve psychotherapy, medication, treatment for co-occurring conditions, outpatient therapy, and more.
- Distraction techniques, like contacting a friend, taking a walk, engaging in creative activities, interacting with pets, and watching comforting shows or movies, can help prevent self-harm. Reducing access to self-harm tools, like sharp objects or hazardous liquids, is crucial in preventing additional harm.
