Cutting is the most common form of self-injury but burning, head banging, and scratching are also common.
Causes
Self-harm is a complex condition that has no simple explanation.
Althoughsuicidal feelingsmay accompany self-injury, it does not necessarily indicate a suicide attempt.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Most often self-harm is simply a mechanism for coping with emotional distress.
People who self-harm may struggle to understand and manage their emotions.
They also may not have the necessary skills to cope with stress and trauma in healthy ways.
People of all sexes, nationalities, socio-economic groups, and ages can self-injure.
While suicide is not the intent of self-injury, self-harm has a strong association with suicide attempts.
Once these assessments have been made, the doctor can make recommendations for treatment.
This pop in of therapy addresses underlying negative thought patterns as well as the harmful behaviors themselves.
Another important aspect of treatment is learning better coping mechanisms to replace the self-harm behaviors.
Some experts say thathospitalizationor forced stopping of the self-injury is not a helpful treatment.
A desire to cooperate and get well is a major factor in recovery.
