Is your child or teen “cutting”
or causing self -injury?
Self-injury is a way of dealing with very strong emotions.
For some people, self-harm gives the relief that crying may provide for the
rest of us. Some people who engage in self-mutilation feel they can't control
highly angry and aggressive emotions. They become afraid that they may hurt
someone, so they turn their aggression inwards to get relief.
People who self-harm may be defined as attention seekers.
However, a person who engages in self-injury may believe this is the only way
to communicate their distress. Attention-seeking may actually be their last
motivation, as self-mutilation can be a hidden problem that goes on for years.
Self-harming purely for attention is one of the big myths about self-injury.
Self-injury may start as a spur-of-the-moment outlet for
anger and frustration (such as punching a wall) and then develop into a major
way of coping with stress that, because it remains hidden, generates more
stress.
The severity of self-harm doesn't necessarily relate to the
severity of a person's underlying problems. Usually, as time passes, one of the
effects of self-harm is that the person who is self-injuring becomes more
accustomed to the pain they inflict on themselves and so they harm themselves
more severely to get the same level of relief.
This spiral can lead to permanent injury and serious
infections.
Signs and symptoms of
self- mutilation:
Scratching or
pinching – this behavior included severely scratching or pinching with
fingernails or objects to the point that bleeding occurred or marks remained on
the skin. This method of self-injury was seen in more than half of all students
who reported participating in self-harm. (Watch interview on Dermatillomania:
The Secret of Compulsive Skin Picking)
Impact with objects –
this self-harm behavior included banging or punching objects to the point of
bruising or bleeding. This way to self-harm was seen in just over 37% of the
self-harming students.
Cutting – while
cutting is often considered synonymous with self-harm, this way of
self-mutilation only occurred in just over 1-in-3 students who reported
self-harming. Cutting is more common among females.
Impact with oneself
– this self-injury method includes banging or punching oneself to the point of
bruising or bleeding. This way to self-injure was seen in almost 25% of the
students who reported self-harming behaviors.
Ripped skin –
this way of self-mutilation includes ripping or tearing skin. This type of
self-injury was seen in just fewer than 16% of those who admitted to
self-harming behaviors.
Carving – this
way of self-harm is when a person carves words or symbols into the skin. This
is separate from cutting. This method of self-mutilation was identified by just
fewer than 15% of those who self-harm.
Interfering with
healing – this way of self-mutilation is often in combination with other
types of self-harm. In this case, a person purposefully hampers the healing of
wounds. This method of self-harm was used by 13.5% of respondents.
Burning – burning
skin is a way of self-mutilation. Burning as a way of self-injury was seen in
12.9% of students who self-harmed.
Rubbing objects into
the skin – this type of self-harm involves the rubbing of sharp objects,
such as glass, into the skin. Twelve percent of responding students used this
way to self-harm.
Hair-pulling –
this way to self-harm is medically known as trichotillomania. In
trichotillomania, a person feels compelled to pull out their own hair and in
some cases even ingest that hair. This type to self-injury was seen in 11% of
students who self-harmed.
One thing to note, 70% of those who repeatedly self-harm use
multiple ways to self-harm with the majority reporting between 2-4 self-injury
methods used.
Counselors available to
help in Jacksonville:
- ·
Jeannetta
A Mock MS, RMHCI
Jacksonville, Florida 3221
(904) 289-3637
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
(904) 432-3745
- ·
Patti
Griffis LMHC, CAP
Jacksonville, Florida 32216
(904) 429-4663
