What is Self-Injury?

The term ‘self-injury’ refers to acts which involve inflicting pain, wounds or injuries on one’s own body. (Bristol Crisis Service for Women, 1997,1998).

The most common form of self-injury is cutting, often the arms, hands and legs. Some people burn or scald themselves, others inflict blows on their bodies or bang themselves against something. Some people inflict different sorts of injury upon themselves, depending on their feelings and what is available to them, this may include: scratching, picking, biting, pulling out own hair / eye lashes, scrubbing their own body.

Self-injury is often seen by others as shocking, frightening and viewed as something bad / wrong. Yet self-injury is a way of coping with pain and trauma. For most self-injury is associated with difficult and distressing life experiences, which often began in childhood.

The physical aspects of self-injury is very important. Some people feel little or no pain at the time of injuring. Yet for others feeling the pain at the time is very important. For many people the bleeding is very important;

“I liked the bleeding. It was like tears, but I didn’t have to cry. My mum used to laugh at me if I cried”

“when I see the blood, it’s such a relief, it’s like the awfulness is coming out and I know I’ll be alright now”

And for others they are only satisfied with an injury if it leaves a scar.

• To serve as a means of coping
• To reduce tension and to self-sooth
• To express anger (releasing or punishing)
• To cope with unbearable feelings through avoidance. The injury takes attention away from the distress into something more manageable.
• Provide a sense of having control over something
• To return to reality. “in order to feel real, when I feel dead”
• To provide an opportunity to experience physical caring and comfort. “it’s like a reason to love myself”.
• An expression. People can feel proud (as well as ashamed) of their wounds. Provide evidence of courage / suffering.
• To provide a replication of the emotions of an abusive situation.
• Self-punishment.
• To cleanse. Rid themselves of badness.
• To punish their abuser
• To deal with confusion about sexual feelings
• To communicate. To tell others something is wrong.

Coping strategies you may want to try:

• writing down your feelings
• phoning a friend / helpline
• listening to music
• drawing
• going for a walk / run / or other form of exercise
• counting down slowly
• breath slowly, in through the nose, out through the mouth
• find a safe punch bag, e.g. pillows
• use a red lipstick . marker to mark your body instead
• sticking plasters on the parts of the body you want to injure

Remember you’re not alone. Speak to someone that can help.

What to do if someone you know self injures

1. Provide them with support.
2. If an incident of self-injury occurs, assess the seriousness of the injury. If you believe the injury might be serious or life-threatening, contact emergency services immediately. If the injury is less serious and if you are willing, ask if they want any help.
3. You should show concern for the injuries themselves. Whatever ‘front’ they may put on, a person who has injured themselves is usually deeply distressed, ashamed, frightened and vulnerable.
4. Encourage the individual to talk about how they’re feeling and listen. Remember to be non-judgmental, honest and open. Show that you see and care about the person in pain behind the self-injury. Make it clear that self-injury is okay to talk about and can be understood.
5. If self-injury is threatened, engage the individual in exploring other coping strategies. Never forbid anyone to self-injure nor encourage self-injury.
6. Before the individual leaves you, ask them if they want you to contact anyone. If you are seriously concerned about their welfare, then contact someone that can support them (this maybe a parent / teacher / school nurse / emergency services).
7. Seek support for yourself from an appropriate person, this maybe a youth worker / school nurse / parent / helpline.
8. Do not see stopping self-injury as the most important goal. A person may make great progress in many ways and still need self-injury as a coping method for some time.
9. Know your limitations.