Self-harm (eng. Self-injury, self-harm) is the intentional infliction of various bodily injuries by a person to himself, which are visible for more than a few minutes, usually with an auto-aggressive purpose.
Self-harm comes in many forms. As for serious self-harm (Major self-mutilation — removal of one’s eye, castration, amputation of a limb), this rarely happens and is most often a concomitant sign of psychosis (acute psychotic episode, schizophrenia, manic syndrome, depression), acute alcohol or drug intoxication, transsexualism Patients’ explanations for this behavior are usually religious and/or sexual in nature, such as a desire to be a woman or adherence to biblical texts regarding gouging out a sinner’s eye, cutting off a criminal’s hand, or casting for the glory of God.
Stereotypical self-mutilation is monotonously repeated and sometimes rhythmic actions, for example, when a person hits his head, punches and kicks, bites himself. It is usually impossible to recognize the symbolic meaning or any meaningfulness in such behavior. It most often occurs in people with moderate to severe developmental delay, as well as in autism and Tourette’s syndrome.
The most common type of self-harm, found throughout the world and in all walks of life, is household self-harm (superficial, moderate self-harm — superficial/moderate). Usually begins in adolescence and includes activities such as hair pulling, skin scratching, nail biting, which are compulsive subtypes, skin cutting, cutting, burning, sticking needles, breaking bones, and preventing wound healing, which are episodic and repetitive subtypes. Recurrent cutting and burning of the skin are the most common types of self-harming behavior and may be symptoms or accompanying signs of a number of psychiatric disorders, such as borderline, facial and antisocial personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorders, and eating disorders.
There are many myths about self-harm. It is completely incomprehensible to an outsider why something should be done with oneself, because it hurts and traces may remain. It is strange and incomprehensible why this should be done consciously and voluntarily. Someone is simply scared, others immediately have ideas about abnormality, about some kind of terrible complexes, masochism, etc. Part immediately gives out ready-made pseudo-psychological explanations, which in most cases fall completely by. It is often said that:
«This is a failed suicide attempt.»
No, it’s completely optional. Of course, among people who injure themselves, the number of suicide attempts is higher. But even those who make such attempts still share when they are trying to die and when to hurt themselves or do something similar. And many, on the contrary, never seriously thought about suicide.
«People are trying so hard to get attention.»
Naturally, many who injure themselves lack attention, love, and the kindness of friends. As well as others. But this does not mean that they are trying to attract attention with their actions. Usually, in order to attract attention, people dress brightly, try to be polite and helpful, wave their hands, speak loudly, after all. But it’s strange to try to attract attention without anyone knowing about it. And the consequences of self-harm are usually hidden in every possible way — they wear long-sleeved clothes, cause damage where no one sees, talk about cats, etc. Often, even close people are not aware of it.
«They are trying to manipulate others.»
Yes, sometimes it is like this: it happens that this is an attempt to influence the behavior of parents or acquaintances, but most do not do such things. Again, if no one knows, it is very difficult to manipulate anyone. Self-harm is often not about others, it’s about yourself. But sometimes a person, resorting to inflicting damage, is actually trying to say something, this is his cry for help, but he is not heard and is regarded as an attempt to manipulate.
“Those who injure themselves are psychos and, accordingly, they should be sent to a psychiatric hospital. And they can be dangerous to society.”
First, self-harm is very personal. Often no one except the person himself knows about this. Or only very close friends (or “like-minded people”) know. The goal itself is an attempt to cope with your feelings, emotions, pain. And other people don’t have anything to do with it. As for the «nuts» — yes, sometimes people with mental disorders (like post-traumatic stress disorder or borderline personality disorder) inflict damage on themselves. Psychological problems do not mean immediate mental illness, much less a hospital.
“If the wound is shallow, then everything is not serious.”
There is almost no connection between the severity of damage and the level of mental stress. Different people inflict different damage on themselves, in different ways, they have different pain thresholds, etc. You can’t compare.
«It’s all about teenage girls.»
Not only. The problem is just completely different ages. Moreover, there is more and more data on the percentage of women-men. if earlier it was believed that there were significantly more women, now the ratio is almost evened out.
It is known%3A one pain can be drowned out by another. Does it need to be done? is another question.
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Self harm is the way. A way to fight and partially cope with pain, with too strong emotions, with painful memories and thoughts, with obsessive states. Yes, this is a crooked and stupid way, but not everyone has been taught something more reasonable! Sometimes it is an attempt to deal with too strong emotions, to ease the pain and feel the reality. Physical pain distracts from mental pain and brings you back to reality. Of course, this is not a serious solution, it does not solve all problems, but for a person it works. Often this is an attempt to express something, to splash out, to convey to someone (perhaps for oneself) those feelings that are not clothed in words; this is some not very standard way of talking and telling. And sometime it is an attempt to control oneself, one’s emotions and body, namely, punishing oneself with magical logic: “If I do something bad with myself, what I fear will not happen.”
And what to do? If the problem of self-harm is your problem, then, of course, you can continue to pull out your hair and bite yourself, or you can set yourself the task of “learning to solve life problems smartly.” Yes, you need to learn how to build relationships and learn how to communicate; you need to learn to relax and express your feelings in an acceptable way; yes, no one promises you results right away and an easy life in general, but — but if you decide to solve your issues, you can handle it. I wish you success!