SELF HARM AWARENESS

WHAT IS SELF HARM

Self harm is the deliberate yet non-suicidal injury to one’s body tissues e.g. self- injury,  self- poisoning or any harm done to the body but without intention of suicide.

WHY WOULD SOMEONE SELF HARM

Self harm is used by self harming individuals as a way to deal with and/or express deep distress and emotional pain even though the relief achieved is only temporal.

WHAT CAUSES SELF HARM

Some causes of self harm are:

•Psychological factors

•Self - punishment to relieve guilt

•Mental illness

•Genetically inherited

•Drugs and alcohol

•To stop numb feeling

•Anxiety

•Depression

•A plea for help

•To feel in control

•Anger

•Expression Etc.

WHY TREAT SELF HARM

•  Self harm offers a relief and a way of expressing the pain the self-harmer is dealing with so why should it be treated? It should be treated because;
• The solution is temporal. The self-harmer will need to indulge in self-harming again and again each time the stressors present themselves.
• Self harming may lead to long term problems.
• It may cause body infections.
• It becomes addictive.
• It becomes compulsive behavior.
• Stops you from learning effective and healthy strategies of dealing with stress or pain.
• Causes body trauma.

Do you self harm? Do you know someone who does? Then you might also like to read:

HOW TO SUPPORT SOMEONE WHO SELF HARMS

SELF INJURY HELP, SUPPORT & TREATMENTACCEPTING YOUR BODY vs BODY IMAGE