Self-Harm. We are well aware that it happens. Maybe you've seen it in a movie or show. Perhaps you know someone whose self-harmed or have even done it yourself. The fact is we know about self-harm and have been turning our gaze away and avoiding it for far too long. If your awareness of the self-harm epidemic isn't mentioned above, self-harm is when someone cuts/burns themselves to relieve emotional pain or distress. Because many parents/guardians of teens and young adults that self-harm approach the matter with anger and misunderstanding, many of those who self-harm feel even more compelled to keep it a secret. About 1 in 5 adolescents have reported to have self-harmed at least once in their life. Keep in mind that that is solely reported data, and not nearly everyone who suffers as a result of self-injury is likely to report. Historically, when self-injury was almost unheard of. It was considered behavior only associated with victims of sexual abuse, the severely affected or impaired, or sufferers of major body alienation. This was even believed by doctors until it started to be prevalent among younger, wealthier generations (which was unforseen by specialists who treat it.) But most of the general population still doesn't really understand how self-harm became so prevalent from a neurological standpoint: the flood of neurological painkillers triggered by the brain to ease the pain of self-harm is comparable to that of a opiate habit (and can be just as addicting.) For some who engage in self-harm feel that the relief from psychological pain is worth the physical pain. For others, self-harm is comforting because it resembles some control; you might not be able to control what others do or say that might cause psychological, mental or emotional pain, but there is some control in initiating physical pain. What almost all studies/surveys have found is that everyone who self-injures does so for differing reasons. Before we get into how to treat self-injury, it's important to note that SELF-HARM IS NOT THE SAME AS A SUICIDE ATTEMPT. Although those who self-harm are twice as likely to commit suicide, habitual self-harm could have nothing to do with suicide at all. Diagnosing self-injury or any contributing mental illness is a difficult matter, and even more difficult to treat. In the psychiatric system, self-harm is considered a symptom of an underlying mental illness and isn't considered a valid as a stand-alone diagnosis. Because of this, it's extremely difficult to find psychologists or clinics that solely devoted to preventing self-harm. As of now, the only effective treatment for self-injury is specialized talk therapy, but the study of treatment is still very much in its infancy. All that's definitive in self-harm today is that we have a lot to learn, and a lot to improve on. If you or someone you know struggles with self-injury, here are some online resources: - Text CONNECT to 741741 for 24/7 support - This Crisis text line will connect you to a live and well-trained crisis counselor available to talk anytime about any crisis. - Self Harm Hotline: 1-800-366-8288 - Self-injury Foundation’s National Crisis Line: 1-800-334-HELP The link below lists some healthy alternatives to self-injury: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/cutting-and-self-harm.htm Stay kind, safe, and understanding. :) - Callie M
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Ms. Carrigan's Psych ClassWe have been reading articles about psychological studies to inform the way we live our lives. Please explore, and we hope you learn a bit about the psychology in your life! Categories
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November 2019
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