What is self injury?

Self injury is the deliberate mutilation of a body part without the intention of causing death. Self injury is an effort to relieve intense, painful, and distressing feelings. Other names for self injury include: self-mutilation, self-harm, self-inflicted violence, “cutting”, and parasuicidal behavior.

Most common forms of self injury:

-Cutting, Scratching, Burning, Hitting self or object
- Interfering with the healing of a wound
-Ingesting poisonous substances and/or pills
-Certain types of hair pulling
-Breaking bones

Do I or someone I know need to seek help for self injury?

You may benefit from consultation with a professional if you or someone you know:
•Wears long pants and long sleeves even in warm weather
•Makes excuses to explain frequent scratches, burns, cuts
•Collects razors, knives, scissors or other sharp objects
•Deliberately injures self to help deal with or avoid painful emotions
•Self injures in order to punish oneself or to act out frustrations
•Shows off self inflicted wounds to “shock” or to “prove” something to others
•Has severe mood swings •Has difficulty with interpersonal relationships

What should you do if you suspect someone you know is self injuring?

•Approach the person gently and with a caring and compassionate demeanor.

•If the person is a minor, provide assurance that they are not in trouble and will not be punished.

•Do not attempt to force the person to stop self injuring with ultimatums or guilt trips. This will only serve to increase their anxiety and therefore increase their need for a coping strategy that has worked for them in the past, which is self injury.

•Remember that we all have ways of dealing with our painful feelings and of relieving tension. Some people have a drink of alcohol, some exercise, some yell at their families, some smoke cigarettes, and the list goes on and on. The person who self injures happens to have chosen a coping mechanism that leaves scars and bruises on their bodies and that tends to repulse people. However, they are merely trying to do the same thing that we all do—cope with our lives.

•You may feel disgust, embarrassment, hurt, shock, anger but do not share these negative feelings with the person.

•You could say something like this: “I noticed some scars on your arm. I am concerned about you. Did you make those scars yourself? It must be so scary to be dealing with such powerful, painful, intense emotions. I am available to talk with you if you would like that.

•Offer a listening ear but do not push. If they are not ready to talk to you at that moment, then back off. Continue to let them know you are available to talk.

•Do not insist on seeing the scars yourself as this can result in shame and embarrassment for the person.

•Remember that this person is hurting tremendously on the inside and the only way they know how to handle it is by hurting themselves on the outside.

•Educate yourself about self injury.

•Call the SITE program to get answers to any of your questions. If the person needs to seek assessment services or treatment for their self injury, then call the SITE program to set up an appointment.

RESOURCES:
Alderman, T. (1998) The scarred soul: Understanding & ending self-inflicted violence, CA: New Harbinger Publications. , Conterio, K., & Lader, W. (1998). Bodily Harm: The Breakthrough Treatment Program for Self-Inurers. New York: Hyperion Press., Levenkron, Steven (1999). Cutting. New York: Norton W. W. and Company.
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www.selfinjury.com