Self-injury, self-harm or self-mutilation is defined as a deliberate, intentional injury to one’s own body that causes tissue damage or leaves marks. This is done to cope with an overwhelmingly stressful situation; intense emotion or because of being totally void of feeling.

The number of people who participate in the act of self-injury is growing. Self-harm is rarely a suicidal act, but it must be taken seriously, because accidental deaths do occur. Sometimes it's difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but breaking the self-injurious cycle is possible. It's important to reach out to someone you trust; whether that is a friend, family member, or therapist. Finding healthy ways to cope with the intense emotion (or lack of feeling) is key to the road to recovery. Recovery takes work and it's important to understand that this doesn't happen over night. But with coping skills and support, this is well within reach.

 About two million people in the United States are self-injurers and about 1% of the population has engaged in some sort of self-injurious behave at one time or another. Those are conservative numbers because the majority of acts of self-harm go unreported do to embarrassment, lack of understanding and shame. Self-injury does not discriminate against race, culture, or socio-ecomomic strata, but there is conflicting data regarding demographics. Some reference sites say that this is mainly done by female teenagers and young women. Other sites indicate that both sexes participate in this behaviour equally, ranging in age from 14 - 60. However, it's agreed that self-injury has more to do with poor coping skills than anything else.

-- Cutting - involves making cuts or scratches on your body with any sharp object, including knives, needles, razor blades or even fingernails. The arms, legs and front of the torso are most commonly cut because they are easily reached and easily hidden under clothing

-- Burning or Branding – burning self with a hot object, burning with a lighter, etc. Friction burn – rubbing a pencil eraser on your skin

-- Picking at skin or re-opening wounds (dermatillomania) - is an impulse control disorder characterized by the repeated urge to pick at one's own skin, often to the extent that damage is caused which relieves stress or is gratifying

-- Multiple piercing or tattooing - may also be a type of self-injury, especially if pain or stress relief is a factor

-- Drinking harmful chemicals

-- Hitting banging head against the wall or other objects. Hitting objects to cause bruising or break bones

It is difficult to understand the motivations behind self-injurious behavior, but a clearer picture develops when you hear the common explanations self-injurers give for doing it:

-- It expresses emotional pain that I'm unable to put into words. The blood or blisters are like the tears I'm unable to cry.

-- I feel so void; it's like I'm a spectator watching my own life.

-- I feel a great sense of relief after I cut. I feel like the emotional pain is replaced by the physical pain and I'd much rather have the physical pain. At least it's something I can see and deal with.

-- It's a way to have control over my body, because I don't don't have control over anything else in my life.

-- It's a way to punish myself for all of the bad things I've done.

* It's also important to understand that self-injury is almost never done for manipulative purposes or as an attention getter.

People who self-injure have some common traits:

-- Often times they suffer from mental illnesses that exacerbate self-injury

-- They lack healthy coping skills

-- A lack of learned communication

-- Many have suffered from physical abuse

-- Overwhelming emotions and often a feeling of being numb or void

One of the dangers of self-injury is that it tends to escalate, and unfortunately it becomes addictive. Self-harm is a habit that is difficult to break even when the individual engaging in the behavior wants to stop. As with other addictions and mental illnesses, professional treatment is almost always necessary. Sometimes finding a therapist who understands this is difficult, so it's best to ask your doctor or insurance company for a referral.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with me. I truly hope that anyone who reads this that is suffering gets some help immediately. Not only does self-injury cause more emotional scars (ironically that's what you are trying to get rid of engaging in the behavior) but it also leaves permanent physical scars that are a constant reminder for the rest of your life. Below are some informative links.  Be well!