Self-harm is an unhealthy coping mechanism people use to temporarily relieve profound emotional distress. While self-harming behavior is not a mental disorder, it is a symptom of several underlying conditions.
Common Forms of Self-Harm
Self-harm can manifest in several ways, each serving as an outlet for inner turmoil. Self-harming behavior can be challenging to identify, as it tends to be a highly private habit. Also, many people who self-harm take care to create their injuries in areas they can hide under their clothes.
- Cutting: In the best-known form of self-harm, people make cuts on their bodies, typically using knives or razor blades.
- Burning: People may burn their skin with lighters, cigarettes, or matches.
- Punching or hitting: Some people may punch themselves or objects to cause bruising or other injuries.
- Hair pulling: Known medically as trichotillomania, this disorder involves an urge to pull out hair, which can lead to noticeable bald spots.
- Puncture wounds: Creating puncture wounds with sharp objects is another method of self-harm that can lead to severe injury.
- Preventing wounds from healing: Sometimes, people may pick at scabs or repeatedly irritate a wound to prevent it from healing as a form of self-harm.
Why Do People Self-Harm?
Though self-harm involves routinely inflicting pain, bruising, scarring, or bleeding, this behavior does not reflect suicidal intent. What are the motivations behind self-harm?
- Emotional pain reflection: People might feel they “deserve” physical pain to reflect their emotional suffering.
- Sense of control: Self-harming can provide a false sense of control in situations where people feel powerless.
- Release mechanism: For some, self-harm serves as a release valve for emotions such as anger, loneliness, or issues with self-worth.
- Cycle of guilt: The temporary relief from self-harm can quickly turn into overwhelming guilt, which may lead to further self-harm, thus creating a vicious cycle.
Risk Factors for Self-Harm
Some people are more prone to self-harm due to the following factors.
- Those with a history of trauma: Adverse childhood experiences like abuse can significantly increase the risk of self-harm.
- Substance misuse: People who abuse drugs or alcohol are more likely to self-harm, especially as substance abuse can lower inhibitions and increase impulsivity.
- Mental health challenges: Conditions such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or PTSD often link to higher instances of self-harm.
- Issues with self-esteem and identity: People struggling with their self-worth, sexual orientation, or gender identity might resort to self-harm as a coping mechanism.
Getting Help
Self-harm is a serious issue that requires compassionate intervention to address the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects.
- Therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy can teach you to recognize negativity and turn it into positivity.
- Medication: In some cases, medications can manage the symptoms of underlying mental health conditions that contribute to self-harm.
- Support groups: Connecting with others who face similar challenges can decrease your feelings of isolation.
Palm Springs Behavioral Health is here to help people who engage in self-harm find healthier ways to cope with their emotions. We encourage you to contact us to start working toward healing.
