Self Harm

Self-harm can be a direct response to a traumatic event that you may have had endured or an ongoing difficultly you are facing.  You may not know how to deal with the feelings that arise from the event and begin to express those emotions by harming yourself.  Self-harm can be a way of expressing feelings without words and a way to communicate when experiencing distress. Sometimes self-harm can be viewed as a form of punishment you feel you may deserve.  It may be a way of expressing guilt that you might be internalising.

Self-harm is intentional damage or injury to yourself and is usually a coping mechanism and a way to deal with emotional or physical trauma. Self-harm is deliberate and can be an attempt to regain control or to be in control of some aspect of their life. The act of self-harm can sometimes become an obsession. 

People can use self-harm as a coping mechanism at any age or time of their life. People who self-harm can be from any type of family anywhere in the world. For some it can be a response to something in their lives that they cannot handle emotionally or they cannot control.

There are various ways in which someone can actively harm themselves, these include cutting or scratching the skin with sharp objects, overheating or under heating, obsessively exercising, burning the skin, and substance abuse.

It can be very distressing if you or someone you love is self-harming. It might be a good idea to talk to your GP or contact a trained therapist or counsellor for help