Basic Information About Self-Injury

Self-injury also known as self-mutilation, self-violence, self-injurious behavior, and self-abuse. Some traits of this are:
-cutting
-burning
-picking or interfering with wound healing
-punching/hitting self or objects-inserting objects in to skin
-bruising or breaking bones
-some forms of hair pulling
There are about 2million cases of self-injury in the U.S alone. The majority of people who self-abuse are in between the ages of 13 and 30. Gender, race, and economic class have nothing to do with self-abuse it happens to all types of people. Experts have found that about 4% of the world’s population struggles with self-injury. It occurs almost equally between males and females, even though it seems to be more prevalent among girls in "popular culture". Self-abuse can be addictive.

But why SI?

There are many reasons one feels the need to hurt him/her self. People who self injure may have lived in a home where feeling of sadness and anger were discouraged. If one is not allowed to show feelings of sadness or anger those feelings get locked inside and reach dangerous heights. For some people the only way they know how to release their feelings is by hurting themselves. For some self injury is a reflection of disapproval for their physical image. That is why a large percent of people who suffer from self-abuse also suffer form eating disorders. Some Self Injurers, but not all are victims of abuse. For these people hurting themselves is a way of proving their control over their suffering, and not being the victim of someone else. The problem is when they self injure they become ashamed of what they have done causing them to slip back into the dangerous feeling they had before causing them to injure them self more.

It's Turning the Pain Inside Out

People who self abuse are usually turning emotional pain into physical pain. For most it is a way of letting the pain out. When they feel alone, helpless, hurt, or angry the only way to sooth their pain is to use self-injurious behavior.
Letting out emotions with pain is both symbolic and physically real. After one cuts them self, the person’s body releases endorphins, chemicals from the brain that help the body cope with pain. Thus creating a temporary high which may or may not cause the person to become addicted to. In turn they may have to hurt themselves more severely the next time in order to get the same calming effect.

What should I do?

Start by being aware of which situations are likely to trigger your urge to cut. Then make a plan for what you will do instead of cutting when you feel this urge.

-punch a pillow

-exercise

-seek counseling

-practice relaxation techniques

-talk to a trusted friend or family member

-get involved in positive activities (sports, clubs, etc.)

-take a bath or shower (make sure no razors are in there too)

-squeeze ice until your hand burns

-slash a piece of heavy cardboard or a plastic soda bottle

-keep a diary of your feelings

Statistics

-1% of the population self-injures

-The incidence of self-injury has increased by 30% over the past four years

-75% of self-injurers are girls, although the number of boys self-injuring is rising each year.

-The average age that people start to self-injure is 13-30

-90% of people who self harm started in their teens

-More than 3 million people self-injure in the U.S. according to University of Missouri-Columbia

- More than 50% of self-injurers are victims of sexual abuse

-40% of self-injurers are men

Myths

1) People cut to get attention.- Wrong, Self-injurers NEED attention, they don’t do it for attention. In fact most self-injurers don't want others to know about what they have done.

2) Self-injurers are attempting suicide.-Wrong, most self-injurers aren't trying to kill them self, they are simply trying to get rid of indescribable feelings or a build up of anger or sadness. Although some self-injurers might use it as a way of suicide, but not the majority.

3) The wound isn't "that bad"; therefore the problem isn't that serious.-Wrong, You can't judge the intensity of a person's emotional distress by the severity of a self-inflicted cut or wound.

4) Only teenage girls self-injure.-Wrong! All sorts of people feel out of control with their emotions and don't know how to cope.

5) People who self-injure are crazy and should be checked into a mental institution.-Wrong, That would just make matters worse because they cut because they have no control over their feelings, or things in their life and that would make them feel like they have less control.

6) They are doing such things to manipulate people.-Possible, Some try to manipulate others but MOST do not. They usually don't want others to act differently with them if they know. But either way you need to help them.

7) Self harmer's are a danger to others.-Wrong, Self harm is an action not done in public. It’s not to harm other people but to help them self.

8) People who self-harm do not feel the pain.-Wrong, for some, pain may not be felt immediately, during the actual process of self-injury, but they feel pain afterward. One main reason it is done is for the pain, which releases the endorphins which makes them feel better.

9) There is nothing you can do to help a self-injurer. They need more than your friendship, they need professional help. -Way Off! Your friendship to them may be more useful to them than professional help, which is also needed.

10) Self-injurers fall into a certain type of "clique,” culture, or socio-economic status.-False, Self-injurious behavior can happen to anyone. Also saying that they are of a clique or culture is wrong. Most people who self-injure are good at hiding it. So you would have never guessed they have self injured.

Back to the Source

http://www.twloha.com/
http://www.essortment.com/all/whatisselfmut_rfyb.htm
http://intheknowzone.com/self_injury/
http://www.palace.net/~llama/psych/quot.html
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/feeling_sad/cutting.html
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