Self-injury
Self-injury is the act of deliberately destroying body tissue, at times to change a way of feeling. The causes and severity of self-injury can vary. Some forms may include:
- carving
- scratching
- branding
- marking
- picking, and pulling skin and hair
- burning/abrasions
- cutting
- biting
- head banging
- bruising
- hitting
- excessive body piercing
Some adolescents may self-mutilate to take risks, rebel, reject their parents' values, state their individuality or merely be accepted. Others, however, may injure themselves out of desperation or anger to seek attention, to show their hopelessness and worthlessness, or because they have suicidal thoughts. These children may suffer from serious psychiatric problems such as depression, psychosis, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Bipolar Disorder. Additionally, some adolescents who engage in self-injury may develop Borderline Personality Disorder as adults.
Self-injury is a complex behavior and symptom that results from a variety of factors. Adolescents who have difficulty talking about their feelings may show their emotional tension, physical discomfort, pain and low self-esteem with self-injurious behaviors. Although some teenagers may feel like the steam in the pressure cooker has been released following the act of harming themselves, others may feel hurt, anger, fear and hate. The effects of peer pressure can also influence adolescents to injure themselves. Even though fads come and go, the wounds on the adolescents' skin might be permanent.
John DeVries ©
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/14 at 03:36 PM
Self-mutilation has become more common among teens with each passing year. The act of inflicting pain on oneself is often used to deal with hurt, anger or other painful emotions. Unfortunately, self-injury can include cutting, burning oneself, punching oneself, banging one’s head against a wall and a number of other methods to self-inflict physical pain.
While the forms of self-injury can vary, we often see students inflict self-harm out of anger, depression, confusion, and emotional pain. These students are seeking a cathartic experience that helps them calm down and cope. Many students also cut or engage in self-harm as a way to punish themselves.
While parents often see self-harm as only a short step from suicide, self-harm is often used in an effort to sustain one’s life. Teens are looking for temporary relief, and not a way to end their lives. Students often report feeling a “rush” after engaging in self-harm. Like many other coping strategies, it can become addictive, leading to higher frequency and/or intensity to get the same effect.
When talking to your teen, focus on their feelings and the real issues at hand. Self-harm is merely a symptom of what is lying beneath the surface. Focusing on the act itself will probably push their behavior even further out of view and heighten their sense of shame and doubt. An increase in self-doubt and isolation can lead to a vicious cycle and actually increase the frequency and dependence on self-harm as a coping mechanism. Instead, talk about the pain they are feeling and try to identify with their experience. Remind yourself of your own coping strategies (alcohol, television, etc.) and try to suspend judgment while you listen. Expressing empathy and listening intently can be difficult, especially when your teen might shift responsibility and make an effort to direct it at you. I encourage you to roll with this form of resistance and remind yourself of the bigger picture. Trying to prove that it is not your fault will only create more tension. Instead, hear their concerns and encourage them to journal, talk to other people, read, and/or exercise. You will also want to seek professional help from a licensed counselor. Look into support groups like “Celebrate Recovery” or “Life Hurts, God Heals.”
(by Ryan Pannell)
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 10/05 at 12:06 PM
