Signs & Symptoms of Self-Harm

It can be challenging to detect when someone is hurting themselves because self-harm is often done privately, and they hide out of shame and fear. The signs suggest someone may be self-harming. Others engage in it more often and have trouble stopping.

Examples of self-harm include:

• Cutting yourself such as using a razor blade, knife, or another sharp object to cut the skin
• Punching yourself or punching things (like a wall)
• Burning yourself with cigarettes, matches, or candles
• Pulling out your hair
• Poking objects through body openings
• Breaking your bones or bruising yourself

Signs That Can Affect Personality in BPD

Who Self-Harms?

This is more on young people who live with anxiety and depression or with their environment. You are more likely to self-harm if you:

Why People May Self-Harm?

People self-harm for different reasons. You might self-harm to:

• Deal with strong emotions like anger or sadness
• Make yourself feel normal
• Make others aware of how you are feeling
• Punish yourself for things you think you have done wrong
• Distract yourself from feelings
• Get relief from feelings

Distractions Techniques from Self-Harming

Some techniques may feel uncomfortable or hurt, but they are not harmful or dangerous.

Examples of distraction techniques include:

• Holding ice cubes in your hands
• Keeping a rubber band on your wrist, you can snap it against your wrist whenever you feel you need to
• Drawing red lines in pen on your body, where you would otherwise cut yourself
• Using exercise to release pressure and stress
• Writing, drawing or scribbling on paper with a red pen
• Doing meditation, such as practicing relaxation or breathing techniques
• Focusing your attention on something simple for some time, may help your negative thoughts pass
• Talking with someone you trust

Complications from Self-Harm

Self-harming behavior has serious complications, like an increased risk of serious physical harm or accidental suicide. These complications can occur when a person causes more damage than they intended. Sometimes people who self-harm become suicidal or feel confined to a cycle of hopelessness, as self-harm is not a helpful way to deal with distressing emotions. Other potential complications of self-harm include long-term scarring, infection, brain injury, or organ damage.

We Level Up Treatment Center provides world-class care with round-the-clock medical professionals available to help you cope. We all work as an integrated team providing Self-harm treatment for successful recovery. Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life. Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Our specialists know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions.

Your call is private and confidential, and there is never any obligation.

Self-Harm Treatments & Therapy

There are effective treatments for self-harm that can allow a person to feel in control again.

Kinds of therapy can help, depending on the diagnosis.

• Psychodynamic therapy focuses on exploring past experiences and emotions
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on recognizing negative thought patterns and increasing coping skills
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy can help a person learn positive coping methods

If your symptoms are severe, your specialist may recommend a short stay in the hospital. They will offer a safe environment where you can focus your energy on treatment.

Their doctor will refer someone who self-harms and seeks medical assistance to a psychologist who specializes in self-harm. A mental health professional can help you to find the cause or trigger for your self-harm behavior. They can also provide management tools to help you cope with any challenging thoughts and difficult feelings.

In many cases, people who self-harm also suffer from mental health disorders. A psychologist can assess whether there are any underlying mental health conditions. Psychologists can provide management strategies and treatments that can help you feel better.

Types of Self-Harm Treatment

There are different approaches to managing self-harm treatment and mental illness and may include:

First, cognitive-behavioral therapy — This is a type of ‘talking therapy that is based on the principle that how you think and act affects the way you feel.

Second. Medicine — In some cases, the best treatment for an underlying condition that triggers self-harm is medicine, such as an antidepressant or anxiety medicine.

Third. Psychotherapy — Counselling helps to stabilize thoughts and feelings by identifying the cause of the emotional stress and teaches skills to help address distress.

You may need treatment from a doctor for physical injuries after a self-harm episode. You may be required to go to the emergency department in severe cases.

Getting Help and Self-Harm Treatment