Presentation on theme: "PRESENTED BY: CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 3CENTERAE.COM Understanding Self-Injury."— Presentation transcript:
PRESENTED BY: CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 3CENTERAE.COM Understanding Self-Injury
1.WHO SELF INJURES? 2. WHY DO THEY DO IT? 3. WHAT IT IS AND IS NOT. 4. HOW CAN WE HELP? Self Injury
Caroline Kettlewell from Skin Games I needed to cut the way your lungs scream for air when you swim the length of the pool underwater in one breath. It was a craving so organic it seemed to have risen from my skin itself.
SI Behaviors Cutting Scratching Abrading Burning Some forms of hair pulling Biting Inserting foreign objects into the body Interference with wound healing Ingesting toxins
Warning signs Unexplained frequent cuts or burns Wearing long sleeves or pants in warm weather Avoiding swimming pools or the beach Wearing thick bracelets to cover wrists Having sharp objects in purse, book bag, or bedroom Difficulty expressing feelings Withdrawal from close relationships
What is the Definition Self injury is the intentional harm of ones own body without conscious suicidal intent. (Aldeman, 1998, Favazza, 1998, van der Kolk, et al., 1991)
What Self Injury is NOT It is not a suicide attempt (attempting to feel better, not escape all feelings) It is not usually attention seeking It is not a danger signal to others
NOT SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR …self-mutilation is distinct from suicide…A basic understanding is that a person who truly attempts suicide seeks to end all feelings where as a person who self-mutilates seeks to feel better. (Favazza, 1998) Intention-does not intend to die as a result of his/her acts. Intends to live.
Who Self-Injures Roughly 2% (1-4%) of the population. In some studies reported as high as 8 million Americans self-mutilate. 30 times the rate of suicide attempts 140 times the rate of completed suicides May also suffer from eating disorders 90% who cut began as teenagers
Typical profile Female Mid 20s to early 30s Began cutting as a teen Middle to upper class Intelligent, well educated Perfectionist
Profile (cont) Males and females All races and socio-economic levels Ages 15-50s Not easily identifiable
Characteristics are often depressed, feel powerless or anxious have low self esteem /negative body image have difficulty expressing their emotions verbally experience difficulty with relationships aim for perfection often have negative body image lack impulse control/suppressed anger do not have a repertoire of coping skills may have serotonin dysfunction possible trauma
Abuse? Many who self-injure did not suffer childhood abuse (Zweg-Frank, et.al, 1995, Brodsky, et. al., 1998) 50-60% suffered childhood abuse or trauma. That means that 40-50% did not (Favazza,1998)
Then Why? Invalidating environments (Lineham, 1993) Expression of private experiences and feelings are not validated Feelings are trivialized, punished or ignored Experience of painful emotions are disregarded. Childs interpretation of his or her behavior is dismissed
In their own words... There are times when I hurt too deep for tears, so I cut and it lets out some of the hurt. Its like when you see the blood flowing out, the pain and fear are flowing with it. Watching the blood flow out makes me feel clean, purified. It feels like something bad or dirty is leaving with the blood.
In their own words... The stopped voice becomes a hand lifting knife, razor, broken glass to cut, burn, scrape, pop, gouge. The skin erupts in a mouth, tongue less, toothless. A voice drips out, liquid…a voice sears itself for a moment, in the flesh. This is a voice emerging on the skin, a mouth appearing on the skin. The body which could not be air on the larynx becomes the stroke of a razor on the breastbone or of a red-hot-knife-tip upon the wrist…. Janice McLane (1996)
Why do they harm themselves? To release intense feelings The physical pain may be easier to deal with than the emotional pain To feel real, alive To exert some control Acting out self punishment
Cycle of Cutting Shame, guilt, remorse, disgust Mounting anxiety, anger or self hatred, alienation Disassociation Cutting Relief Into the Void Panic Muller 2005
In own words... Its like opening up a safety valve or letting steam out of a covered pot. Sometimes I cut just to make myself feel something because I am just totally numb. (In Strong, 1998, p.7)
Why Self-Mutliate? I felt like I was isolated from the world, dead, with no emotions at all. The blood told me I was alive, that I could feel…Also I couldnt cry, and bleeding was a different form of crying. (Lindsay in Strong, p.57)
DSM IV Classification Some mental health professionals are advocating for self injury to be listed as a separate diagnosis Currently listed as a symptom associated with a number of mental health disorders
SI is often associated with: Borderline Personality Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Dissociative Identity Disorder Eating Disorders Substance Abuse Depression
DIAGNOSIS (Ferreira de Castro, et.al., 1998) Major Depression 14%56% Alcohol Dependence 16%26% Schizophrenia 2%9% Dysthymia 12%7% Adjustment disorder with depressed mood 24%6% Self-Injure Suicide Attempt
Therapeutic Goals Encourage communication about self-injury and relevant aspects of the childs life. Improve the quality of clients life as it relates to self-injury. Explore themes of guilt and shame. Diminish use of self-injury as the coping skill when client desires to make changes. (Conners, Rubin, et, al,2002).
Helping: What to Do (Alderman, 1997) Learn about self-injury. Talk about SI. Ask about it. Be supportive. Show you care. Acknowledge the effort to cope with very difficult emotions Set limits Be available, but refer when appropriate Dont discourage self-injury Recognize the severity of the distress
What Not to Do Be afraid to ask the question, Do you self-injure? Make eliminating the behavior the primary goal Make a safety contract or use contracts as a reward or punishment Visibly monitor their injuries Make him or her feel ashamed or guilty about the behavior
This is yet another secret I must hold to myself because my therapist has given me an ultimatum, either no more hurting myself or we will have to discontinue our therapy. So a little distance comes between us now, a secret that hold great importance which we could both learn from, if I was able to tell her…JML
Respond to the following statements by writing A for agree if you mostly agree with the statement or D for disagree if you mostly disagree. Be ready to explain your responses. ___Self-injurers are survivors. ___Self-injurers are weak people. ___Self-injurers are harming themselves to get attention. ___Self-injurers are perfectionists. ___Self-injury is a type of suicidal behavior. ___Self-injurers are proud of their scars. ___Self-injury helps people cope. ___Self-injurers are more sensitive than most other people. Muller 2006 Self-Injury Group
Self-Injury If my wound could talk it would say___________________________________ ____________ _____________________________________ ______________________________________ _______________________ _____________________________________ ______________________________________ ________________________ _____________________________________ ______________________________________ _________________________ Muller 2006
Taking Care of Yourself Monitor your own horror and confusion Broaden your perspective past the behavior to the intent behind it Seek consultation Get support for yourself
Care and Concern The capacity to derive comfort from another is the single biggest predictor of whether traumatized patients are able to give up their self- destructive habits. (van der Kolk)
Care and Concern The development of a safe and trusting relationship is vital for the child to learn to sooth and care for him or herself in a healthy manner by internalizing their therapists care and concern. (Strong, 1988)
Care and Concern _____ was the first to acknowledge that maybe I was in pain, as opposed to doing it for attention. This affirmation of my inner pain was a healing force. Shelley 10
Discussion Why the upsurge in self-injurious behavior? Students who look for fist fights? Tattoos and piercing? Addictive?
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