March is designated as the mental health month of self-harm awareness. There is a stigma around people who self-harm. Often people assume that it is simple attention-seeking behavior and to combat it by ignoring them. “Self-injury or self-harm is a response to severe emotional distress. Intentional, non-suicidal injuries are a way for a person to mirror psychological pain with physical pain.”
Around 15% of adolescents self-harm, and around 4% of adults self-harm. The most common forms of self-harm are skin cutting, head-banging, flesh burning, hair-pulling, and picking at wounds. And it has some serious consequences, not just physically, but emotionally too. Wounds can get infected, scars, uncontrolled bleeding, and concussions are some of the physical consequences. Emotionally, a person can feel shame, guilt, worthlessness, isolated, and even become addicted to these behaviors.
It can be difficult to understand why someone would commit self-harm, but it is a form of a coping mechanism; it’s a way to survive in an environment that does not feel safe to them. Self-harm helps a person cope by processing or distracting themselves from negative feelings. They may feel like it gives them something they can control in their life. Or it can act as a way to feel something physical if they feel emotionally numb.
If you or a loved one self-harms and wants to find a solution, seeking a therapist is a great place to start. It’s important to realize that self-harm, while it can be an effective coping mechanism for emotional pain, there are other less harmful coping skills that can be used to help emotional distress. It’s also important to realize that to treat self-harm, the underlying emotions need to be addressed, which can be terrifying. This is why a therapist is helpful; they are an expert in guiding you through this process. A therapist can give you coping skills that are tailored for you. They will explore your emotions with you. They can help you find a support system outside of therapy.
If you feel the urge to self-harm or are self-harming, there is a crisis text line. The number is 741741, and you can say hello or help or whatever you feel is appropriate.
You can also reach out to us at: https://www.1alliancecps.com/ and look at our FAQ sheet, or contact us directly with any questions or concerns you may have.
Sources
https://www.crisistextline.org/topics/self-harm/#pass-741741-on-to-a-friend-8
https://www.inspiremalibu.com/blog/mental-health/march-self-injury-awareness-month/