What is self-harm?

Nonsuicidal self-injury, often simply called self-injury, is the act of deliberately harming the surface of your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. It's typically not meant as a suicide attempt. Rather, this type of self-injury is an unhealthy way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger and frustration. -Mayo Clinic

Why do some self-harm?

People who self-injure commonly report they feel empty inside, over or under stimulated, unable to express their feelings, lonely, not understood by others and fearful of intimate relationships and adult responsibilities. Self-injury is their way to cope with or relieve painful or hard-to-express feelings, and is generally not a suicide attempt. But relief is temporary, and a self-destructive cycle often develops without proper treatment. Self-inury can also be a way to have control over your body when you can’t control anything else in your life. A lot of people who cut themselves also have an eating disorder.

By engaging in self-injury, a person intends to:

• Obtain relief from a negative feeling or mental state
• Resolve an interpersonal difficulty, like a disagreement with a friend or loved one
• Deal with an intrapersonal problem, like boredom
• Induce a positive feeling state

Information taken from mentalhealthamerica.net

How common is self-injury?

Research indicates that self-injury occurs in approximately as many as 4% of adults in the United States. Rates are higher among adolescents, who seem to be at an increased risk for self-injury, with approximately 15% of teens reporting some form of self-injury. Studies show an even higher risk for self-injury among college students, with rates ranging from 17%-35%.

Information taken from mentalhealthamerica.net

Should I be worried if someone I know is self-harming?

Perhaps you have noticed a friend or family member with frequent bruises or bandages. If someone is wearing long sleeves and pants even in hot weather, they may be trying to hide injuries or scarring. Keep in mind that this is a behavior that might be part of a larger condition and there may be additional signs of emotional distress. He or she might make statements that sound hopeless or worthless, have poor impulse control, or have difficulty getting along with others. If you’re worried a family member or friend might be hurting herself, ask her how she’s doing and be prepared to listen to the answer, even if it makes you uncomfortable. This may be a hard subject to understand. One of the best things is tell them that while you may not fully understand, you’ll be there to help. Don’t dismiss emotions or try to turn it into a joke. Gently encourage someone to get treatment by stating that self-harm isn’t uncommon and doctors and therapists can help. If possible, offer to help find treatment. But don’t go on the offensive and don’t try to make the person promise to stop, as it takes more than willpower to quit.

See more at: https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Related-Conditions/Self-harm#sthash.yigdKaS9.dpuf