Self Injury

Self-injury is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. It is an unhealthy way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger and frustration. However, the person's intention is not to kill himself or herself. As we have already talked about-Childhood sexual abuse puts its victims at greater risk for many emotional difficulties in adult life. Adult victims of childhood sexual abuse have been found to be more susceptible to self harm. In one sample of individuals who self-harmed, 93% reported a history of childhood sexual abuse.  

Why do people engage in self-harm?

There's no one single or simple cause that leads someone to self-injure. One study specifically examined the reasons given for the behavior in a sample of self-harmers . The top two reasons were "To distract yourself from painful feelings" and "To punish yourself." (the studies mentioned above are sited on the following site: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/self-harm-trauma.asp) 

Other reasons include:

• Decrease dissociative  symptoms, especially depersonalization and numbing by feel something, anything, even if it's physical pain, when feeling emotionally empty
• Block upsetting memories and flashbacks.
• Demonstrate a need for help.
• Express internal feelings in an external way
• Reduce anger.
• Disfigure self as punishment.
• Manage or reduce severe distress or anxiety and provide a sense of relief
• Provide a distraction from painful emotions through physical pain
• Feel a sense of control over his or her body, feelings or life situations
• Communicate depression or distressful feelings to the outside world
• Be punished for perceived faults

Forms of self-injury:

One of the most common forms of self-injury is cutting, which involves making cuts or severe scratches on different parts of your body with a sharp object. Other forms of self-harm include:

• Burning (with lit matches, cigarettes or hot sharp objects like knives)
• Carving words or symbols on the skin
• Breaking bones
• Hitting or punching
• Piercing the skin with sharp objects
• Head banging
• Biting
• Pulling out hair
• Persistently picking at or interfering with wound healing

When a friend or loved one self-injures:

If you have a friend or loved one who is self-injuring, you may be shocked and scared. Take all talk of self-injury seriously. Although you might feel that you'd be betraying a confidence, self-injury is too big a problem to ignore or to deal with alone. Here are some options for help.

• Your child. You can start by consulting your pediatrician or family doctor who can provide an initial evaluation or a referral to a mental health specialist. Don't yell at your child or make threats or accusations, but do express concern.
• Teenage friend. Suggest that your friend talk to parents, a teacher, a school counselor or another trusted adult.
• Adult. Gently encourage the person to seek medical and psychological treatment.

This is taken from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/self-injury/DS00775