Self-Harm

Self-Harm

Self-harm can be defined as deliberate injury to oneself. Self-harm is often used as a coping technique to deal with psychological distress or emotional pain. Regardless of the way that self-harm is performed, individuals who engage in self-harm often see it as the only way to cope with intense feelings, express feelings, release pain, feel in control, or to not feel numb. 

Some of the most common ways that individuals self-harm include: 
  • Cutting or scratching the skin
  • Burning or scalding your skin 
  • Hitting oneself or banging your head 
  • Punching things or throwing your body against hard objects 
  • Sticking objects into the skin 
  • Intentionally preventing wounds from healing 
Some less obvious ways of self-harm may include: 
  • Driving recklessly 
  • Binge drinking 
  • Binge eating or restrictive eating 
  • Taking too many drugs 
  • Having unsafe sex 
  • Sleep deprivation 
  • Excessive exercise 
  • Isolation 
What' the difference between Self-Harm and Suicide? 

Self-harm is often called non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as most self-harm behaviours are performed without any intention of dying by suicide. Although some individuals who engage in self-harm may later die by suicide, most individuals who engage in self-harm do not wish to end their life. Instead, they are engaging in self-harm as a way to cope with their current life circumstances. 

How is Self-Harm treated?

Talk therapy or psychotherapy has been found to be an effective treatment for many types of depressive disorders. One of the most effective therapeutic interventions for self-harm is called dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Through DBT, individuals can learn how to better tolerate emotional distress, regulate difficult emotions, find more healthy coping strategies, and decrease self-injurious behaviours. 

If you or someone you know is engaging in self-harm behaviours, please consider reaching out to a mental health professional to help you learn how to cope with the intense emotions that you’re feeling. Contact us for a free 15 minutes consultation to see how we can help. 

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