Self-harm is one of the most misunderstood yet widespread psychological issues, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. It remains one of the most stigmatized topics in mental health discussions despite being so highly common. There is a dire need to bring awareness and de-stigmatize self-harm so that patients feel a conducive environment surrounding them in their healing journey. Thus, knowing what self-harm is, what causes it, its symptoms, and available treatments would help us better support individuals who experience it.
What is Self-Harm?
Self-harm, or self-injury, is the intentional act of causing harm to one's body, usually as a means of coping with emotional pain, stress, or overwhelming feelings. An essential point to understand is that self-harm and suicidal behavior are not the same thing. Both inflict harm on one's person, but self-harm occurs as a way of coping with oneself in times of emotional distress rather than being an attempt to end one's life.
Unfortunately, the condition is largely misunderstood. While many people treat it as a cry for attention, others feel it is not severe. On the contrary, it is an issue of great concern in mental health, and individuals who self-harm do this as a way of saying or otherwise coping with emotional anguish that they cannot communicate in words.
Common Forms of Self-Harm
Different forms of self-harm have different emotional needs that serve as coping mechanisms. The commonly seen methods include the following:
Cutting: This is a method of creating deep cuts in the skin using sharp objects, such as razors and knives.
Burning: Burns cause injuries on the skin through the use of hot objects or chemicals.
Scratching: Using self-inflicted scratching or hitting as an outlet for emotional pain.
Hair-Pulling: Trichotillomania, or compulsive hair-pulling, is another form of self-harm.
Substance abuse: The utilization of alcohol or drugs to suppress emotional pain.
These behaviors are often used to release emotional tension or divert attention away from psychological distress.
Causes of Self-Harm
Many factors contribute to developing self-harming behaviors, including psychological, biological, social, and behavioral causes.
Psychological Causes
Emotional Distress: Those who may have anxiety or depression, or those who have experienced traumatic events can use their body to harm themselves as a way of coping with overwhelming emotions.
Emotional Numbness: Emotional numbness is often a reason why people self-harm to attain some feeling when they become numb and disconnected from their emotions.
Control and expression: Self-harming can give individuals some control over their bodies and emotions, especially when they feel life is uncontrollable.
Biological Causes
Genetics: A family history of mental health disorders can increase the risk of adopting self-harming behaviors.
Neurobiological factors: An imbalance in one's brain chemistry or a failure in the regulation of emotions can contribute to self-harm.
Social and Environmental Factors
Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse or bullying: This can lead to self-harming behavior.
Social isolation: Loneliness and feelings of alienation can worsen psychological anguish, which can lead to self-harm.
Sociocultural factors: Societal pressure to conform to societal norms, especially during the teenage years, is psychologically straining and can result in self-destructive acts.
Symptoms of Self-Harm
One should be aware of the symptoms of self-harm, which include physical and psychological manifestations, to support and intervene on time.
Physical Symptoms
Visible wounds without any evident cause: Wounds with no apparent reason could indicate self-harming.
Unhealthy healing: If the injury is not healing correctly or gets infected several times, it may signal self-injury.
Psychological Symptoms
Secretive Behavior: Most people who self-harm are ashamed and even feel guilty about what they are doing; they thus become secretive about their behavior.
Social isolation: People might avoid friends, family, or even social interactions because they might be ashamed or feel isolated.
Trouble in articulating feelings: Self-harming people rarely express themselves appropriately.
Escalation Indications
Repetition: If someone continues self-harming, it might be considered a more severe case, as the issue leading to such hurtful behavior might intensify.
Greater severity: Self-harm turns into a significant sign if the frequency and intensity of the behavior keep increasing.
The Emotional and Mental Effects of Self-Harm
Self-harm often accompanies a decline in mental health. It may trigger increased feelings of depression, anxiety, and worthlessness. Most individuals who self-harm do so to help cope with emotional pain. Still, this behavior offers temporary comfort at best and usually worsens the struggles with mental health.
Self-harm can also affect relationships because people become withdrawn, secretive, and unable to communicate feelings. This creates a cycle of isolation that worsens their emotional condition.
Risks and Complications of Self-Harm
While self-harm may appear to offer relief to a person undergoing emotional distress, it carries significant risks.
Physical Risks: Self-harm poses physical risks, including infections, lasting scars, and significant tissue damage.
Mental health consequences: Chronic self-harm may contribute to worsening mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts.
Self-harm can disrupt daily routines, hinder performance at work or school, and strain personal relationships.
How to Recognize When someone is Self-Harming
It can be difficult to spot the signs of self-harm, especially if the individual is trying to hide it. However, there are certain behavioral and emotional cues to look for.
Wearing long clothing, even in warm weather: This is often an attempt to hide scars or injuries.
Sudden mood changes: Increased irritability, withdrawal, or emotional outbursts may indicate someone is struggling.
Verbal cues: Descriptions of hopelessness, emotional pain, or inability to cope with emotions.
Treatment of Self-Harm
Fortunately, self-harm is treatabl and individuals may recover with proper support.
Therapeutic Interventions
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This is a therapy used to help clients understand and overcome negative thought processes that lead to self-harm.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is yet another technique that aims to regulate an individual's emotions in patients with extreme emotional responses.
Trauma-informed therapy: These therapies essentially heal past wounds to avoid self-destructive impulses for those who had traumatic life experiences.
Group therapy: Peer support groups enable the contact to be gained with people of similar struggles.
Medical Treatments
Medication: Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed to manage the underlying mental health conditions contributing to self-harm.
Seeking professional help: Professional treatment is necessary for long-term recovery for chronic or severe cases.
Alternative Treatments
Art therapy: Using creative outlets to express emotions can help individuals channel their feelings safely and productively.
Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or yoga, can help individuals manage stress and emotional pain without self-harm.
Preventing Self-Harm
Preventing self-harm involves creating a supportive environment and providing the tools to manage emotions effectively.
Building Emotional Resilience
Stress management techniques: Exercise, meditation, and breathing exercises can help individuals cope with stress without harming themselves.
Healthy coping skills: Alternative ways of expressing and dealing with emotions include journaling, talking to a therapist, or learning hobbies.
Establishing And Enabling Support Setting
Supportive families and communities: The importance of family and social support in helping individuals at risk of self-harm cannot be overemphasized. Facilitating open communication about mental illness is essential.
Breaking the stigma: Reducing the stigma around self-harm and mental health conditions encourages individuals to seek help without the fear of judgment.
Self-Harm Reduction Strategies
Distraction techniques: Using safe distractions, such as squeezing a stress ball, drawing on the skin, or holding ice cubes, can help reduce the urge to self-harm.
Safety plans: Developing a personalized safety plan for at-risk people can be crucial in preventing escalation.
To Support a Self-Harming Person
You can reach out to someone who is self-harming with empathy and care in the following ways.
Support them non-judgmentally: Listen without criticism and anger.
Seek professional assistance: Encourage them to seek therapy or counseling while respecting their decisions.
Respect their boundaries: Help them feel empowered in their journey to recovery as needed.
Conclusion
Self-harm is a serious and often misunderstood issue. Understanding, support, and professional help are needed for such a condition. We can help people with such emotional distress with signs of identification, understanding the causes, and providing treatment options to manage their emotional distress in healthier ways. Healing is always possible, and no one must ever feel alone.
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