Description

Nonsuicidal self-injury, often simply called self-injury, is the act of causing harm to his own body on purpose, as for example, cutting or burning yourself. Generally, it was not meant as a suicide attempt. This type of self-injury is a harmful way to cope with emotional pain, the sadness, the anger and stress.

While self-injury may bring a brief sense of calm and a release of physical and emotional tension, and is usually followed by guilt and shame and the return of painful emotions. Life-threatening injuries are generally not the intention, but it is possible that the more severe, including fatal, self-harm that could happen.

Get the right treatment can help you learn healthier ways to cope.

Symptoms

The symptoms of self-injury may include:

  • Scars, often in patterns.
  • Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises, bite marks or other injuries.
  • Excessive rubbing of an area to create a burn.
  • Keep sharp objects or other elements used for the self-injury in the hand.
  • Long-sleeved shirts or long pants to hide the self-injury, even in hot weather.
  • Frequent reports of accidental injury.
  • Difficulties in relationships with others.
  • The behaviors and emotions that are changing rapidly, and they are impulsive, intense and unexpected.
  • Speaking of helplessness, hopelessness or worthlessness.

Forms of self-injury

Self-injury occurs mainly in private. Usually, it is done in a controlled manner, or in the same way each time, which often leaves a pattern on the skin. Examples of self-harm include:

  • Cut, scratch, or puncture with a sharp object, one of the most common methods.
  • Recording with light matches, cigarettes or heated, sharp items such as knives.
  • Carving words or symbols on the skin.
  • Self-slapping, hitting, biting or head banging.
  • Piercing the skin with sharp objects.
  • Inserting objects under the skin.

Most frequently, the arms, the legs, the chest and the belly are the goals of self-injury. But in any area of the body can be a goal, sometimes using more than one method.

Becoming upset can trigger urges to self-injure. Many people self-injure only a couple of times and then stops. But for others, self-injury can become a long-term, repeated behavior.

When to see a doctor

If you're injuring yourself, even in a minor way, or if you have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help. Any form of self-injury is a sign of the biggest stress factors that need attention.

Talk with someone you trust, like a friend, a family member, a provider of health services, spiritual leader, or a school counselor, nurse, or teacher. They can help you take the first steps to the success of the treatment. While you may feel embarrassed about your behavior, you can find support, taking care of the help of people who are not going to judge.

When a friend or family member is self-injures

If you have a friend or family member who is self-injuring, you may be surprised and scared. Take all talk of self-injury seriously. Though you may feel that you would be betraying the confidence, the self-injury is too big a problem to ignore or deal with alone. Here are some ways you can help.

  • Your child. You can start by talking with your pediatrician or other health care provider who can do an initial evaluation or a referral to a mental health professional. Express your concern, but don't yell at your child, or make threats or accusations.
  • Pre-teen or teenage friend. Encourage your friend to talk with the parents, a teacher, a school counselor or another trusted adult.
  • Adult. Gently express your concern and encourage the person to seek medical care and treatment of mental health

When to get emergency help

If you have been injured seriously or think that your injury can be life-threatening, or if you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or the local emergency number immediately.

Also consider these options if you are having suicidal thoughts:

  • Call your mental health provider if you are seeing one.
  • In contact with a direct line of suicide. In the united states, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat . The services are free and confidential. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the united states has a Spanish language of the phone line in 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).
  • Seek help from your school nurse or counselor, teacher, or health care provider.
  • Reach out to a close friend or family member.
  • Contact with a spiritual leader or someone in your faith community.

Causes

There is not a single or simple cause that drives someone to self-harm. In general, the self-injury can be the result of:

  • Poor coping skills. Nonsuicidal self-injury is usually the result of an inability to cope in healthy ways with the stress and emotional pain.
  • Difficulty in handling emotions. Having a hard time to control, expression, or understanding of emotions can lead to self-injury. The mixture of emotions that triggers the self-injury is complex. For example, there may be feelings of worthlessness, loneliness, panic, anger, guilt, rejection and self-hatred. Being bullied or if you have questions about the sexual identity can be part of the mix of emotions.

Self-injury may be an attempt to:

  • To manage or reduce the severe distress or anxiety and provide a sense of relief.
  • Provide a distraction from painful emotions through the physical pain.
  • A sense of control over the body, feelings or life situations.
  • Feel something — anything — even if it is physical pain, when you feel emotionally empty.
  • To express the inner feelings in an external form.
  • Communicate feelings of stress or depression, with the outside world.
  • Punish oneself.

Risk factors

Adolescents and young adults are more likely to self-injure, but that in the other age groups do it, too. Self-injury often begins in pre-teen or early teenage years, when the emotional changes occur very quickly, often and unexpectedly. During this time, adolescents also face peer pressure, loneliness, and conflict with parents or other authority figures.

Certain factors may increase the risk of self-injury, including:

  • Have friends who self-injure. Having friends who intentionally hurt themselves makes it more likely for someone to start with the self-injure.
  • The problems of life. The past experiences of neglect, sexual, physical or emotional abuse, or other traumatic events that can increase the risk of self-injury. So you can grow and remain in an unstable family environment. Other risk factors include the questioning of personal or sexual identity and social isolation.
  • Mental health problems. Be very self-critical, and struggling with the resolution of problems increases the risk of self-injury. In addition, the self-injury is commonly associated with certain mental health conditions, such as borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders.
  • Use of Alcohol or drugs. To be under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs can increase the risk of self-injury.

Complications

Self-injury can cause complications, such as:

  • The worsening of the feelings of shame, guilt and low self-esteem.
  • Infection, either of wounds or the sharing tools.
  • Permanent scarring or other permanent damage in the body.
  • Worsening of the underlying problems and the conditions, if not treated properly.
  • Severe injury that could lead to death.

The risk of suicide

Self-injury is generally not a suicide attempt, but may increase the risk of suicide because of emotional problems that trigger self-injury. And the pattern of damage to the body in times of distress may make suicide more likely.

Prevention

There is No sure way to prevent someone who is self-injuring behavior. But to reduce the risk of self-injury includes strategies that involve both individuals and communities. Parents, family members, teachers, school nurses, coaches, or friends can help.

  • Identify someone at risk and offer help. Someone in a situation of risk that can be taught how to better manage stress and deal with the problems of life. The person can learn coping skills, healthy for your use during periods of distress.
  • Promote social support networks. The feeling of loneliness and a disconnected can be a part of the self-injury. Help someone who is healthy in a way that the connections of the people who do not self-injure can improve the relationship and communication skills.
  • Increase awareness. Learn about the warning signs of self-injury and what to do when suspicion of him.
  • Encourage friends to seek help. Companions tend to be loyal to their friends. Encourage children, adolescents, and young adults to keep the secret and help if they have a concern about a friend or family member.
  • Speak of the influence of the media. News media, music, and other highly visible communication, the characteristic of self-injury can push children and young adults with mental or emotional problems for the experiment. Teach children critical thinking skills about the influences that surround it could reduce the harmful impact.

Diagnosis

Although some people may ask for help, sometimes family or friends discover the self-injury. Or a health care provider doing a routine medical examination may notice signs, such as scars or fresh injuries.

There is No specific test to diagnose the self-injury. The diagnosis is based on a physical and psychological evaluation. You may be referred to a mental health professional with experience in the treatment of self-injury for evaluation. This professional will talk to you about your life, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

A mental health professional can also evaluate for other mental health conditions that may be linked to self-injury, such as depression or personality disorders.

Treatment

The first step is to tell someone about your self-injuring behavior so that you can get help. The treatment is based on your specific issues and related mental health conditions you may have, such as depression. Due to the self-injury can become an important part of your life, that is the best way to get treatment from a mental health professional who has experience in the treatment of self-injury.

If the self-injury behavior is related to a mental health condition, such as depression or borderline personality disorder, the treatment plan focuses on that condition, as well as the self-injury behavior.

The treatment of self-injury behavior can take time, hard work, and your own desire to retrieve.

Here is more information on the treatment options.

Psychotherapy

Known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, psychotherapy can help:

  • Identify and manage the underlying problems that cause self-injury.
  • Learn skills to better manage the anxiety.
  • Learn to manage intense emotions.
  • Learn how to improve your self-image.
  • Develop skills to improve their relationships and social skills.
  • Healthy development of problem-solving skills.

Several types of individual psychotherapy can be helpful, such as:

  • The cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with more effective ones. You can also gain skills that help you cope with different situations when it is necessary.
  • Dialectical behavior therapy, a type of CBT that teaches behavioral skills to help you manage distress, regulate or control their emotions, and improving your relationships with others.
  • Mindfulness-based therapies, which help you to live in the present and deal with the difficult emotions and negative thoughts. These can help reduce anxiety and depression, and improve your overall well-being.

In addition to individual therapy sessions, your healthcare provider may recommend family therapy and group therapy.

Medications

There are No medications that specifically treat the self-injuring behavior. However, if you are diagnosed with a mental health condition, such as depression or an anxiety disorder, your health care provider may recommend antidepressants or other medicines for the treatment of the underlying condition that is linked with self-injury. The treatment of these conditions may help to reduce the desire to harm themselves.

Inpatient care

If you have been seriously injured or several times, the doctor may recommend that you be admitted to a hospital for psychiatric care. Be cared for in a hospital, often short-term, may provide a safe and secure environment, and more-intensive treatment until you get through a crisis. Mental health day-treatment programs that focus on learning behavioral coping skills to manage distress can also be an option.

Lifestyle and home remedies

In addition to professional treatment, here are some self-care tips:

  • Follow your treatment plan. Keep therapy appointments. The practice and the use of coping skills learned in therapy. Take any prescribed medication as directed.
  • Recognize the situations or feelings that might trigger your desire of self-harm. Make a plan for other ways to calm down or get distracted or to get support, so that it is ready the next time you feel the need to self-injure.
  • Ask for help. Keep your mental health provider phone number of the hand. Tell your doctor about all the incidents related to self-injury. Choose a trusted family member or friend as the person who will immediately contact if you have a desire to self-injure or if the self-injury occurs.
  • Take care of yourself. Learn how to include physical activity and relaxation exercises as a regular part of your daily routine. Eat healthy. Ask your health care provider if you have sleep problems, which can have a large impact on the behavior.
  • Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. That affects your ability to make good decisions and can put you at risk of self-injury.
  • Take care of your wounds if it is damaged or seek medical treatment if necessary. Call a trusted family member or friend for help and support. Do not share items used for self-injury. That increases the risk of infectious diseases.

Coping and support

If you or a friend or family member needs help in coping, consider the following tips. If there is a focus on thoughts of suicide, take action and get help right away.

Coping tips if you self-injure, which include:

  • Connect with others who can support you so that you don't feel alone. For example, reaching out to a trusted family member or friend, please get in contact with a support group, or contact your health care provider or mental health provider.
  • Avoid the websites which support or the exaltation of self-injury. Instead, look for sites that support their recovery efforts.
  • Learn how to express their emotions in a positive way. For example, to help balance your emotions and improve your sense of well-being, physical activity, or practice relaxation techniques. Or participate in activities that you find a personal meaning, such as dance, music or art.

Coping tips if a friend or a loved one is self-injures include:

  • Information. Learn more about self-injury to help you understand why it occurs, and how you can help stop this harmful behavior. To know the strategies and relapse prevention plan of your friend or loved one has been developed with the therapist, so that you can encourage it.
  • Try not to judge or criticize. Criticism, yelling, threats or accusations may increase the risk of self-injuring behavior. Provide support, praise the efforts to express emotions in a healthy manner and try to spend positive time together.
  • Let your loved one know you care, no matter what. Remind the person that they are not alone and that you're available to talk. Recognize that you can't change the behavior, but you can help the person to find resources, to identify the coping strategies and offer support during the treatment.
  • To support the treatment plan. Encourage your loved one to take prescription drugs, if that's part of the plan. To highlight the importance of keeping scheduled appointments for therapy and the practice of the skills learned.
  • Make a home safe. Remove or limit access to matches, knives, razor blades or other elements that can be used for self-injury.
  • Share coping strategies of ideas. Your loved one may benefit from the hearing strategies that you use when you are distressed. You can also serve as a model to be followed by the use of coping strategies healthy.
  • Find support. Consider talking with people who have gone through what you're going through. Share their own experiences with family members or trusted friends. Ask your health care provider or mental health provider if there are any local support groups for parents, family members or friends of people who self-injure. Or speak with a counselor or therapist.
  • Take care of yourself. Take some time to do the things you enjoy. And get enough rest and physical activity.

Preparing for your appointment

Your first appointment may be with your primary care provider, school nurse, or a counselor. But due to self-injury often requires specialized mental health care, you may be referred to a mental health professional for further evaluation and treatment.

Be prepared to provide information that is accurate, complete, and honest information about your situation and your self-injuring behavior. You may want to take a trusted family member or friend along, if possible, to support and to help you remember information.

What you can do

To help you prepare for your appointment, make a list of:

  • The symptoms that I had, including triggers for self-injury, how long you've been self-injuring, if you use any of the objects, and where in your body you usually self-harm.
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, herbs, or other supplements you are taking, including the dosage.
  • Questions to ask your mental health provider.

Questions may include:

  • What treatments are available? What do I recommend?
  • What side effects are possible with this treatment?
  • What are other options for the approach that you're suggesting?
  • There are medications that could help? There is a generic version of the medicine you're prescribing?
  • What should I do if I have the urge to self-harm between therapy sessions?
  • What else can I do to help myself?
  • How can I — or those around me — to acknowledge that things can get worse?
  • You can suggest resources that help me learn more about my condition and its treatment?

Do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your mental health provider is likely to ask a series of questions, such as:

  • When did you first begin to harm themselves?
  • What methods do you use to harm yourself?
  • How often do you cut or injure yourself?
  • Where your body will self-injure?
  • What feelings and thoughts do you have before, during and after the self-injury?
  • What seems to trigger the process of self-injury?
  • What makes you feel better? What makes you feel worse?
  • Do you have the support of a social circle or relationship?
  • What emotional problems that you face?
  • How do you feel about your future?
  • Has had prior treatment for self-injury?
  • Do you have thoughts about suicide when you're feeling down?
  • Do you drink alcohol or use of tobacco or recreational drugs?

Your mental health provider may ask more questions based on your responses, symptoms, and needs. The preparation for the questions they will help you make the most of your time with the provider.

Symptoms and treatment of Self-injury/cutting