Self Harm
Self Harm
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It is the act of deliberately inflicting pain and damage to one’s own body without leading to death. It most often refers to cutting, burning, scratching and other forms of external injury. The injuries can be superficial or deep. Tools used can be erasers, matches, razors, knives, etc. Injury locations are normally on arms, legs, wrists and the torso.
Self-harm can also include internal or emotional harm, such as consuming toxic amounts of alcohol or drugs or participating in unsafe sex.
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Usually when people self-harm, they don't do so as a suicide attempt. Rather, they self-harm as a way to release painful emotions.
While self-harm can look like attempted suicide, many who intentionally hurt themselves are not suicidal. They are simply taking extreme measures to distract themselves from the challenges of daily life or attempting to release themselves from unbearable mental anguish.
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Understanding the many causes that lead students to self-injury can often help counselors know how to support students in the school setting and/or how to determine the need for other potential interventions in and out of school.
- Process and/or distract from negative feelings
- Feel something physical, particularly if they are feeling numb
- Develop a sense of control over their lives
- Punish themselves for things they think they’ve done wrong
- Express emotions that they are otherwise embarrassed to show
- Low self-esteem and self-worth
- Perception that they are not as good as their peers
- Unable to live up to real or perceived expectations from parents, peers, society, etc.
- Previous or current abuse (physical, emotional or sexual)
- Loss of a loved one through death or even divorce
- Poor and even abusive relationships between parents
- Emotional issues in the family that are not being addressed
- Inability to verbalize feelings/emotions
Roots of self-harming behavior are often found in early childhood trauma, including physical, verbal or sexual abuse.
Self-harm occurs most often in teenagers and young adults.
Recent data suggests that as many as 20% of teenagers report engaging in self-harming behaviors.
Boys don’t self harm as often as girls. The behaviors for boys are more likely to be risky behaviors. An example could be punching a wall when angry.
The rate of self harm is higher in girls and they tend to start at an earlier age.
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- Cutting
- Burning
- Scratching
- Carving words/symbols in skin
- Hitting or punching oneself
- Banging one’s head (or other body parts) against another surface
- Piercing the skin with sharp objects
- Pulling out hair (including eyelashes and eyebrows)
- Picking at existing wounds
- Bone breaking
- Multiple piercings or tattooing
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- Scars
- Fresh cuts, burns, scratches, bruises
- Rubbing an area excessively to create a burn
- Having sharp objects on hand
- Wearing long sleeves or pants in hot weather
- Difficulties with interpersonal relationships
- Persistent questions about personal identity
- Behavioral and emotional instability, impulsiveness or unpredictability
- Saying they feel helpless, hopeless or worthless
- Withdrawal
- Frequent and long visits to the restroom