Self Harm/Self Injury

Forms of self-injury

Self-injury is generally secretive or ritualistic, leaving a mark on the skin. For instance, self-harm examples:

• Cutting
• Skin-carving
• Self-punching, head-banging
• Skin piercing with sharp objects
• Object insertion under the skin
• Burning with cigarettes, sharp objects, matches, knives, etc.

Self-injury is most common in the legs, arms, and torso front, although one may target any body area to cause self-damage. Further, self-injurers often employ many methods.

Thus, being upset might induce the desire to self-injure, and many individuals self-injure just a few times before stopping. However, self-injury may become a long-term, recurrent activity for certain individuals.

Causes of Self Injury-Self Harm

There is no clear or concise reason why someone might self-injure. In general, self-injury may be caused by:

• Poor coping abilities: Typically, non-suicidal self-injury results from an inability to deal with emotional suffering healthily.
• Inability to control one's emotions: The individual has difficulty managing, expressing, or understanding emotions. The combination of feelings that provoke self-injury is complicated. Examples include emotions of meaninglessness, loneliness, panic, wrath, guilt, humiliation, self-hatred, and sexual confusion.

However, through self-harm, the individual may be attempting to:

• Manage or alleviate extreme anxiety or anguish and create a feeling of relief
• Use physical discomfort as a distraction from distressing emotions
• Feel in charge of their body, emotions, and life circumstances.
• Experience something while emotionally numb, even though it's a physical pain.
• Express your inner emotions externally.
• Communicate sentiments of depression or pain to the outside world. Be penalized for shortcomings.

Signs and Symptoms of Self-Injury & Self-Harm

Signs and symptoms of self-injury may include:

• Patterned-scars
• Cuts, scratches, bruising, bite marks, etc.
• Excessive rubbing on an area for creating a burn
• Possessing sharp objects
• Despite the heat, wearing long sleeves and pants
• Frequent injuries
• Relationship issues
• Instability, recklessness, unpredictability
• Helplessness, despair, worthlessness

Self Injury-Self Harm Treatment Options

Self-injury has no one best treatment. However, the first step is to seek assistance from places like the Crisis Text Line. Further, your challenges and mental health illnesses, like depression, determine your treatment. Moreover, Self-injury may become a big part of your life, so receive a proper self-harm diagnosis, and seek help from a mental health expert.

So, if self-injury is due to any mental health problem, like depression or BPD, the treatment approach focuses on both. Also, Self-injury treatment takes time, effort, and motivation.

Psychotherapy

This treatment approach may help to:

• Manage underlying conditions that cause self-injury.
• Master stress management
• Help in emotional control
• Increase your self-esteem
• Develop social and relational skills.
• Master problem-solving

Some of the approaches include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Mindfulness-based therapies

Medications

No drugs cure self-injury. Thus, if you have a mental health issue, like depression or anxiety, the doctor may prescribe an antidepressant or other drugs to address the underlying condition.

Hospitalization

Your doctor may recommend mental hospitalization if you self-injure seriously or frequently. Further, hospitalization provides a safe atmosphere and comprehensive therapy during a crisis. Also, day therapy for mental health may be available.