www.BeTreatedWell.com Self Injurious Behavior
Self-injurious behavior, also known as self-mutilation, self-harm, or cutting,
includes any intentional behavior resulting in self-injury. Although cutting is the
most common method of self-injury, other methods may include burning,
puncturing, pinching, biting, hitting and rubbing.
Estimates of the prevalence of self-injury range from 1% of the general population
to as much as 15% of the student population in high schools across the country.
Self-injury is slightly less common among Asian Americans, but otherwise equally
common across all other racial, ethnic or socio-economic groups.
Though self-injury is thought to be more common in females, that may be a
misperception based solely on the fact that females are more likely than males to
seek treatment. Self-injury often starts in the preteen years, when emotions are
more volatile and loneliness, peer pressure and conflicts with parents are at their
most intense. However, the behavior often persists well into adulthood.
Though self-injury may be more common in people who have a family history of
self-injury or suicide, self-injury is not an attempt at suicide, but rather a way to
self-regulate intense emotions.
Just as self-injury should not be seen as a suicidal gesture, self-injury should not
be seen as manipulation or attention seeking. Many who self-injure have a history
of not feeling validated and are sensitive to rejection. As a result, most are
secretive about their self-injurious behavior and hide evidence of the injuries via
clothing or by choice of body locations that are accessible, but not easily visible to
others.
Individuals who self-injure tend to have poor problem-solving and interpersonal
skills, are self critical, experience intense emotions, have low self-esteem and are
impulsive.
For those who self-injure, the self inflicted pain is a solution to some other
unexpressed or unresolved problem. Many of those who self-injure have a history
of childhood sexual abuse or neglect and more than half have a history of
emotional abuse as children or adults.
For them, self-injury may be a way to seek relief from the emotional pain, an
external way to express internal distress and despair or a form of self-punishment
or control in response to a situation in which they were not in control.
Self-injury can serve as a non-verbal expression of strong feelings of anger or
anxiety, or confusion about the experience of pain in a caring relationship.
In addition to being a way to cope with emotions, self-injury can also be a way to
impact others: it can serve as a way to punish; test a relationship; communicate
boundaries; and trigger comfort and soothing.
For those who feel emotionally numb, self-injury can be a way to affirm their
existence by producing the simultaneous experience of emotional and bodily pain.
Self-injury can be addictive and bring with it feelings of shame. However, the
self-injury will not stop until other coping skills are developed.
Therapy must first focus on building trust. Therapy may also address
perfectionism, ways to manage changing moods, how to directly express strong
feelings, developing healthy relationships, personal boundaries and assertiveness.
Self-injurious behavior, also known as self-mutilation, self-harm, or cutting,
includes any intentional behavior resulting in self-injury. Although cutting is the
most common method of self-injury, other methods may include burning,
puncturing, pinching, biting, hitting and rubbing.
Estimates of the prevalence of self-injury range from 1% of the general population
to as much as 15% of the student population in high schools across the country.
Self-injury is slightly less common among Asian Americans, but otherwise equally
common across all other racial, ethnic or socio-economic groups.
Though self-injury is thought to be more common in females, that may be a
misperception based solely on the fact that females are more likely than males to
seek treatment. Self-injury often starts in the preteen years, when emotions are
more volatile and loneliness, peer pressure and conflicts with parents are at their
most intense. However, the behavior often persists well into adulthood.
Though self-injury may be more common in people who have a family history of
self-injury or suicide, self-injury is not an attempt at suicide, but rather a way to
self-regulate intense emotions.
Just as self-injury should not be seen as a suicidal gesture, self-injury should not
be seen as manipulation or attention seeking. Many who self-injure have a history
of not feeling validated and are sensitive to rejection. As a result, most are
secretive about their self-injurious behavior and hide evidence of the injuries via
clothing or by choice of body locations that are accessible, but not easily visible to
others.
Individuals who self-injure tend to have poor problem-solving and interpersonal
skills, are self critical, experience intense emotions, have low self-esteem and are
impulsive.
For those who self-injure, the self inflicted pain is a solution to some other
unexpressed or unresolved problem. Many of those who self-injure have a history
of childhood sexual abuse or neglect and more than half have a history of
emotional abuse as children or adults.
For them, self-injury may be a way to seek relief from the emotional pain, an
external way to express internal distress and despair or a form of self-punishment
or control in response to a situation in which they were not in control.
Self-injury can serve as a non-verbal expression of strong feelings of anger or
anxiety, or confusion about the experience of pain in a caring relationship.
In addition to being a way to cope with emotions, self-injury can also be a way to
impact others: it can serve as a way to punish; test a relationship; communicate
boundaries; and trigger comfort and soothing.
For those who feel emotionally numb, self-injury can be a way to affirm their
existence by producing the simultaneous experience of emotional and bodily pain.
Self-injury can be addictive and bring with it feelings of shame. However, the
self-injury will not stop until other coping skills are developed.
Therapy must first focus on building trust. Therapy may also address
perfectionism, ways to manage changing moods, how to directly express strong
feelings, developing healthy relationships, personal boundaries and assertiveness.
| Antonia Caretto, Ph.D., PLLC |
| www.BeTreatedWell.com phone: 248.553.9053 |
| Articles of Interest: Business of Therapy Anxiety Why Gender? Asperger's Disorder Adjustment Disorders Self-Injurious Behavior |
