Self Harming
Self-harming is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. It does not usually mean a suicide attempt. Rather, this type of self-harm is a harmful way of dealing with emotional pain, intense anger, and disappointment. While self-harm can cause a momentary sense of calm and release of tension, it is often followed by a return of guilt and shame and painful feelings. While life-threatening injuries are not usually intended, with self-harm comes the possibility of more serious and even fatal self-aggressive acts.
Signs of Self-Harm
Signs and symptoms of self-harm may include:
Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises, bite marks or other wounds
Excessive friction of an area to create a burn
Handling sharp objects
Wearing long sleeves or long pants, even in hot weather
Frequent reports of accidental injuries
Difficulties in interpersonal relationships
Behavioral and emotional instability, impulsivity and unpredictability
Expressions of helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness
forms of self-harm
Self-harm often happens privately and is often done in a controlled or ritual way that leaves a pattern on the skin. Examples of self-harm include:
Cutting (cuts or severe scratches with a sharp object)
scratching
Burning (with heated, sharp objects such as lit matches, cigarettes, or knives)
Engraving words or symbols on leather
Self hitting, punching or head banging
Piercing the skin with sharp objects
Placing objects under the skin
-Most commonly, the arms, legs, and front of the torso are targets of self-harm, but any area of the body can be used to self-harm. Self-harming people may use more than one method to harm themselves.
Alternative Treatment Methods
Psychotherapy: Known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, psychotherapy can help you:
Identifying and managing the underlying issues that trigger self-harming behavior
Learning skills to better manage boredom
Learning how to regulate your emotions
Learning how to strengthen your self-image
Developing skills to improve your relationships and social skills
Developing healthy problem-solving skills
Medications: There are no medications to specifically treat self-harming behavior. However, if you are diagnosed with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety disorder, your doctor may recommend antidepressants or other medications to treat the underlying disorder associated with self-harm. Treating these disorders can help you feel less compelled to hurt yourself.
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