is the act of deliberate, repetitive, impulsive, non-lethal harming
of one's body. Many people who self-harm do not even know they
are doing it. For example, some people pinch themselves until
they create a scar or pick at their fingernails until they bleed.
The adoption of self-injury practices usually indicates an unhealthy
The actual act of self harm may include:
Picking scabs or interfering with wound healing.
Punching self or objects.
Inserting objects in body openings.
Bruising or breaking bones.
Some forms of hair pulling.
Excessive Body Piercing.
self-inflicted violence, self-injury, self-harm, parasuicide,
delicate cutting, self-abuse or self-mutilation. Main characteristic
The act of self-harm reduces psychological, physiological tension
and arousal to normal.
may perform their ritual in private, bandage their own injuries
and don’t discuss the issue with anyone.
and feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness.
Type of self-injury is pathological, as opposed to culturally-sanctioned.
The acts are compulsive, episodic, and repetitive.
Experiencing a depressed mood with a high degree of irritability
and sensitivity to rejection and some underlying tension.
Self-mutilators often are unable to provide explanations for their
own self-mutilative behavior.
The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects
of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general
risk include persons with borderline personality disorder (especially
females 16 to 25 years of age), persons in a psychotic state (frequently
males in young adulthood), emotionally disturbed and / or battered
children, mentally retarded and autistic children and persons
with a history of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
or Mental Abuse.
Withdrawal and Depression.
Inability to deal with emotions.
Sleeping more than normal.
Secluding themselves from family, and friends.
Emotionally distressed person who retreats for small period
of time and returns.calm or sedated.
Some disorders have similar symptoms. The clinician, therefore,
in his diagnostic attempt, has to differentiate against the following
disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.
Disorder - Munchausen's Syndrome.
have difficulty talking about their feelings may show their emotional
tension, physical discomfort, pain and low self-esteem with self-injurious
behaviors. Other factors identified include:
psychological / Emotional pain.
Release of tension.
Inability to handle feelings, good or bad.
The effective treatment
of self-injury is most often a combination of medication, Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy, and/or Interpersonal Therapy, supplemented
by other treatment services as needed.
and Psychotherapy [ See
Therapy Section ]:
Behavioral Therapy that incorporates contracts, journals, and
behavioral logs are useful tools for regaining self-control. Interpersonal
therapy assist individuals in gaining insight and skills for the
development and maintenance of relationships, and helps individuals
understand their destructive thoughts and behaviors.
Psychopharmacology Section ] :
that stabilize mood, ease depression, and calm anxiety is being
done; some of these drugs may help reduce the urge to self-harm.