Self harm or self injury is the deliberate act of hurting yourself. It is something someone does to themselves, to cause deliberate harm. Self harm is often something done in secret and is hidden from others. Many people self harm secretly before having the courage to tell someone. Self harm provides temporary relief from emotional distress. However this relief is only short term and self harm does not address the person’s underlying issues. For example low self esteem.
Self harm is not to be confused with a suicide attempt. In fact many people who self harm describe it as their way to keep living and to avoid suicide. People who make serious attempts to harm themselves can be at risk from ‘accidental’ death through their self harm. This risk will be assessed by the professionals involved in their care.
Self harm is a symptom of another problem. It is a sign that all is not well and there is something else going on with the person.
There are many types of self-harming behaviours.
• Cutting the skin
• Burning the skin
• Banging the head or other part of the body against a hard surface
• Punching the face or body
• Hair pulling
• Self strangulation
• Overdoses of medication or harmful substances
• Swallowing foreign objects such as razor blades
• Inserting foreign objects into wounds
‘The first time I hurt myself I tried to throw myself down the stairs. Then I started to make superficial scratches on my wrists with a compass or earring. Then I started to cut myself with broken glass. I tried scissors and kitchen knives as well, along with razor blades. Then I started to scald myself with an iron.’
What is Self Harm?
