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Self-harm Awareness Month


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Content Warning: Mentions of suicide, self-harm, lethal methods, and many more. Please do not continue reading if you are easily triggered.


March is Self-harm Awareness Month.


I realized while writing this blog that I've been clean for three years. However, I can't deny that I still have the urge to harm myself almost every day, especially during one of my depressive episodes. There are days when I can manage and resist the urge to harm myself, but there are also days when I would have to use all of my mental and physical strength not to surrender. This is why I believe I must write about this and raise awareness. If I had known that there are healthy alternatives and that help is available, I could've managed my emotions or urges more effectively


Understanding Self-harm

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is the most common type of self-harm, defined as any deliberate act of harm to one's body without suicidal intent. However, this does not make NSSI any less serious. The only thing that distinguishes NSSI from suicidal behavior is the desire to die, and this desire can shift rapidly before and/or during the act. Having said that, NSSI is a major risk factor for suicide.


Self-harm typically begins in adolescence, between the ages of 13 and 14, when emotions are more volatile and teenagers are confronted with increased peer pressure, loneliness, and conflicts with parents and other authority figures. It is important to note that self-harm is not an attempt to "manipulate" others, nor is it inherently "attention-seeking," and viewing it as such may lead to individuals minimizing, dismissing, or intentionally ignoring self-harm in an attempt to eliminate the behaviors. It may lead others to believe that if they do not address the behaviors, they will eventually go away. However, this can be a very harmful reaction to self-harm. Individuals may feel invalidated or uncared for, which leads to an increase in behaviors and greater emotion dysregulation.

Several precipitating factors lead to self-harm, including:

  • Suicide attempts in the past

  • Criminal/legal issues

  • Job/financial difficulties or loss

  • Having self-harming friends

  • Adverse childhood experiences, current or prior

  • Trauma, abuse, an unstable family environment, social isolation, and confusion about personal identity are all examples of life issues.

  • Problems with mental health (self-harm is commonly associated with borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders)

  • Possession of lethal weapons

  • Alcohol and other drug misuse and abuse

In general, it could be caused by:

  • Inadequate coping abilities

  • Difficulty controlling emotions: The inability to regulate, express, or comprehend emotions (The mix of emotions that triggers self-harm is complex and may include feelings of worthlessness, loneliness, panic, anger, guilt, rejection, self-hatred, or confused sexuality.)

A person who commits self-harm may be attempting to:

  • Control or alleviate severe distress

  • Physical pain can be used to distract from painful emotions.

  • Feel in command of his or her body, feelings, or life circumstances

  • Feel anything, even if it's physical pain.

  • Express internal feelings in an outward manner.

  • Depression in communication

  • Punishment for perceived flaws


Warning signs of Self-harm

It is critical to pay attention to a person's words and actions. They may find it difficult to reach out and openly express their emotions, so by paying attention to what they are saying or doing, you can ask them questions to help start dialogues about what is going on in their lives. People frequently conceal self-injuries, but there are warning signs to look for. Among these are, but are not limited to:

  • Isolation

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Instability of behavior and emotions, impulsivity, unpredictability, and extreme mood swings

  • Helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness statements

  • Even in hot weather, wear long sleeves or long pants.

  • Having sharp objects readily available.

  • Wounds or injuries that do not seem to heal and scars that appear in patterns

  • Cuts, scratches, bruises, bite marks, or other wounds that have recently occurred

  • Unexplained burns, cuts, or scratches with contradictory causes. A burn is caused by rubbing an area excessively.

  • In the trash, look for razor blades and matches, bloodstains, or bloodied tissues.

  • Reports of accidental injury are common.


Forms of Self-harm

Self-harm is usually done in private and in a controlled or ritualistic manner, leaving a pattern on the skin. Self-injury commonly targets the arms, legs, and front torso, but any area of the body can be used. Self-injurers may use multiple methods to harm themselves.

Some of the most common self-harm methods include, but are not limited to:

  • Cutting

  • Toxic substances are consumed.

  • Pinching or Scratching

  • Bruising or beating

  • Bone-breaking

  • Branding or burning (with lit matches, cigarettes, or heated, sharp objects such as knives)

  • Words or symbols carved on the skin

  • Self-inflicted blows, punches, or head banging

  • Using sharp objects to pierce the skin or tattooing excessively

  • Putting things under the skin

  • Hair yanking

  • Headbutting, kicking, and punching holes in walls


Dangers from Self-harm

People who engage in self-harming behaviors are at risk of a variety of negative outcomes, including the following:

  • Shame, guilt, and low self-esteem may worsen.

  • Infections can occur as a result of the injuries or tools used.

  • Permanent scarring/disfigurement is possible.

  • When self-harm goes too far, it can result in accidental death.

  • The issues that motivate self-harming behaviors to worsen.


Techniques and Alternative Coping Strategies

An urge to self-harm can feel overwhelming, but in my experience, it does not last forever. Keeping ourselves occupied with stimulating or distracting activities can help us ride out the urge without succumbing to it.

So, if you are having difficulty managing and/or resisting self-harm, please be aware that you have a few options, which are as follows:

  • Feeling irritated or angry:

    • Investigate and compile harm reduction strategies as well as grounding techniques to see which one works best for you. As an example:

    • Wrap your wrist in a rubber band.

    • Draw with a washable red marker on yourself, then take a shower to wash away your pain.

    • Take a hot or cold shower, or soak in a shallow cold-water bath.

    • Hold an ice cube in your hand until it melts.

    • Apply an ice pack to your brow.

    • Wrapping yourself in a blanket tightly or using a weighted blanket

  • Feeling numb:

  • Feeling isolated and ignored:

    • Reach out to a friend, partner, or family member: Reaching out can be difficult, but for some, talking it out in times of crisis is enough to keep them from harming themselves. Speak with someone you trust:

    • Contact a mental health professional: Above all, someone who is self-harming requires professional help. A therapist or a Psychologist can identify underlying mental illness or trauma and teach the client tools for dealing with painful emotions without harming themselves. Obtaining the correct diagnosis can assist healthcare professionals in developing an appropriate treatment plan.


Talking to a Loved One About Suspected Self-Harm

Many people are unaware of the warning signs that someone they care about is engaging in self-harm. To learn how to recognize self-injury and what you can do to help, please see my previous blog, How Can We Help and Support Those Who Are Suicidal?


IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS AT IMMEDIATE RISK OF SELF-HARM OR SUICIDE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.



References:

Samweiss. “March: Self-Harm Awareness Month.” Department of Psychiatry, 8 Mar. 2022, https://www.med.unc.edu/psych/march-self-harm-awareness-month/.


WellPower. “March Is Self-Harm Awareness Month.” WellPower, 8 Dec. 2017, https://www.wellpower.org/blog/march-self-harm-awareness-month/.


“March Is Self-Injury Awareness Month.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/two-takes-depression/202203/march-is-self-injury-awareness-month.


Josh. “Self-Harm Awareness Month.” Frontier Health, 31 Mar. 2021, https://www.frontierhealth.org/self-harm-awareness-month/.


Image by storyset</a> on Freepik


 
 
 

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