Does your friend or family member wear long-sleeved clothes for no reason? Have you noticed any wounds or blemishes on their body? Maybe that person is self-harming. This is a really sensitive topic and a bit difficult to talk about. But it is very important to talk about it and be aware of it. Because the best way to help someone who is suffering from this is to understand the condition exactly.
What exactly is "Self-Injury"?
Simply put, self-injury is the deliberate harm to one's own body . This usually results in scarring of the skin or damage to tissue. The person who does this often does this alone, in secret from others. They also try their best to hide their behavior from others.
These behaviors can come in many forms. For example:
- Cutting the skin with a sharp object.
- Burning from hot objects.
- Repeatedly scratching and rubbing skin wounds, preventing them from healing.
- Hair pulling (this is also called ``Trichotillomania'' in medical terms).
- Banging your head on walls or other objects.
- Attacking oneself.
- Violent acts such as breaking bones.
Who is most affected by this condition?
This condition can occur in anyone of any age, gender, or race. Education, social status, or religion are not relevant to this. However, there are some common factors that can be seen among people who are more prone to these behaviors. Let's see what they are.
| Risk Factor | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Young girls | This condition is especially common among teenage girls. |
| Those who were abused as children | This risk is higher for those who were physically, mentally, or sexually abused as children. |
| People with other mental problems | This condition can also occur in people with other problems such as substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and eating disorders. |
| Those who were not allowed to express their feelings | For those who grew up in families where they had to keep emotions like anger and sadness bottled up from childhood and weren't allowed to let them out. |
| People with low social connections | For those who don't know how to put their feelings into words, feel like there is no one to help them, and don't have a good network of friends. |
Why does someone hurt themselves?
This is something that is hard to understand for someone looking from the outside. You may think, "Why are you hurting yourself?" But behind that behavior lies a deep, unbearable mental pain. Think of a bucket full of water. When it overflows and you can't put any more water in, that's how the pain feels. Some people do this as a way to release that remaining pain.
There may be several reasons for this:
- As a way to temporarily reduce overwhelming emotions, stress, and anxiety .
- Make sure you are 'living' and 'feeling' something.
- Control the urge to hurt someone else, and instead hurt yourself.
- Preferring to experience physical pain rather than emotional pain.
- Creating pain that you can control (as opposed to uncontrollable pain, such as childhood abuse).
- Break the emotional numbness.
- As an indirect way of asking for help . Get attention that you need help.
- In an attempt to manipulate others, make them feel guilty, or keep them away.
Many people confuse this with suicidal behavior. However , self-harm is often not done with the intention of committing suicide. It is a wrong coping mechanism to deal with unbearable mental pain. However, if this situation becomes severe, the possibility of harming life cannot be ruled out.
What are the warning signs?
If you suspect that a friend of yours may be suffering from this condition, keep an eye out for these symptoms.
| Warning sign | What you will see |
|---|---|
| Key Behavioral and Physical Characteristics | |
| Unexplained injuries | When asked about the cuts and burns on his body, he doesn't give a clear answer. |
| Covering the body with clothes | Even on very hot days, I wear long-sleeved clothes and long pants (to cover blemishes). |
| Possession of unusual items | Sharp/hot items such as blades, razors, and lighters are unexpectedly found among the person's belongings. |
| Mental and social characteristics | |
| Low self-esteem | They talk very poorly about themselves and think they are not worthy. |
| Difficulty controlling emotions | It's hard to deal with emotions, you get angry easily, and you feel sad. |
| Problems in relationships | Relationships with friends and family are often problematic. |
| Impairment of daily activities | You are unable to perform your duties properly at work, school, or at home. |
How is this treated?
The most important thing is to understand that this is not something you can solve on your own. It is definitely important to see a doctor, especially a psychiatrist or a counselor. There is no reason to be ashamed or afraid.
The doctor will first talk to you to determine what is causing this condition and whether it is a symptom of another mental illness. For example, it may be a symptom of one of the following conditions:
- Personality disorders (especially `Borderline Personality Disorder`)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Major Depression
- Anxiety Disorders Schizophrenia-emotional `(Schizophrenia)`
The following are mainly used as treatments:
Main treatment methods
- Psychotherapy: This is the main form of treatment. You will be taught how to deal with your emotions in a healthy way by talking about what is on your mind, the reasons behind your behavior, and how to deal with your emotions in a healthy way.
- Specific therapies: Treatments like `CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)` help you recognize these feelings when they arise and learn to deal with them in a different way. `DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)` is also a very effective treatment.
- Group Therapy: Talking to others who have the same problems as you can reduce shame and loneliness, and provide support from others.
- Family Therapy: Involving family members, helping them understand the condition and communicate better with each other.
- Medications: Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants or other medications to help manage underlying conditions like depression and anxiety. Research has also found that medications like Naltrexone can help some people.
- Other methods: Relaxation techniques such as hypnosis can also help reduce the mental stress that occurs before this.
With proper treatment, you can completely recover from this condition. The most important thing is to find the psychological cause behind this behavior and treat it. Therefore, the first and most important step is to ask for help without being ashamed or afraid.
Take-Home Message
- Self-injury is not an attempt at suicide. It is a misguided attempt to deal with unbearable emotional pain.
- If someone is suffering from this condition, it is very important to listen to them with kindness and understanding, without judging them.
- Be aware of warning signs, such as wearing long clothes even on hot days and having unexplained scars on your body.
- This is not something that can be resolved on your own. It is essential to seek the advice of a qualified doctor or psychiatrist immediately.
- With the right treatment and support, you can fully recover from this condition and live a healthy life.
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