IMPORTANT NOTE: Williamsburg Therapy Group is not a crisis line, nor is it equipped to handle medical or psychiatric emergencies. If you are currently in crisis or experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
Nonsuicidal self-injury is a behavior that most people know from media depictions of mental illness but don't often talk about in day-to-day life. Why do people hurt themselves? Who is at risk for self-harming behavior? And what can be done to help change these behaviors? In this article we'll:
Self-harm, also known as self-injury, is the act of intentionally harming one’s own body, often as a coping mechanism for emotional pain, sadness, anger, and stress. Self-harm can take many forms, including cutting, burning, hitting, and other forms of physical harm.
Self-harm is not typically a suicide attempt, but it can be a sign of deeper emotional issues that need attention.
Self-harm is often a maladaptive coping mechanism for people who struggle with emotional regulation and mental health conditions. People who self-harm may experience overwhelming feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Self-harm can be a way for individuals to feel in control or to release pent-up emotions.
For people who self-harm, that self-harm often becomes a vicious cycle of distress and relief. These individuals can become dependent on the temporary relief and develop maladaptive coping. Professional treatment can be essential to break this cycle, develop healthier coping strategies, and improve overall mental health.
Self-harm can serve several intrapersonal and interpersonal functions, including affect regulation and communication. People who self-harm may use physical pain to override painful background chatter or to express/communicate/document pain.
Self-harm can also be a way for individuals to punish themselves or to experience euphoria. Physical pain can release chemicals in the body that block pain and negate emotional distress.
Teenagers and young adults are most likely to self-harm, but individuals of all ages can develop self-harming behaviors. Certain mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, can increase the risk of engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury.
Traumatic events, peer pressure, and conflicts with parents or other authority figures can also trigger self-harm, as some people use self-injury as a negative coping skill for stress.
Emotional pain is a common underlying factor in self-harm, often stemming from mental health conditions or traumatic experiences. People who self-harm may struggle to express their emotions in a healthy way, leading to feelings of isolation and disconnection.
Self-harm can be a way for individuals to cope with emotional pain, but it can also exacerbate the problem. Not to mention that it can lead to complications like infection and permanent scars.
Self-injury can take many forms, including cutting, burning, hitting, and other forms of physical harm. There is not always suicidal intent, but suicide attempts can be related to some of these self-injury behaviors. Self-injury can be a one-time event or a repeated behavior. The most common areas of the body targeted for self-injury are the arms, legs, chest, and belly.
Treatment for self-harm typically involves a combination of therapy and medication and may depend on what mental disorders or mental health issues are at the root of the self-injury behavior. A mental health professional can diagnose and treat nonsuicidal self-injury with talk therapy and techniques that stem from different approaches. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are both common and effective therapies for self-harm.
Recovery from self-harm requires a comprehensive treatment plan and ongoing support. Having friends or family members to lean on can help, as can joining support groups for people who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury. These can be found in person in some areas or may be joined online.
Supporting a loved one who self-harms can be challenging, but it’s essential to approach the situation with empathy and understanding. If a family member or friend engages in nonsuicidal self-injury, encourage your loved one to seek professional help and offer to support them in their recovery.
It can also be extremely helpful to educate yourself about self-harm and its underlying causes to better understand what your loved one is going through and how you can most effectively communicate with and help them.
Prevention and early intervention are critical in reducing the risk of self-injury. By educating young adults about mental health and self-harm, you may help prevent the behavior by helping them recognize the risks. Often people self-injure because they are in severe distress and aren't sure how to seek support.
You can also reduce the risk of self-injury by encouraging healthy coping mechanisms early in life, such as exercise, mindfulness, and good sleep habits. Strong social connections and interest in hobbies and activities can also be preventative factors against self-injury behaviors.
While not always related, self-harm behaviors can be present alongside suicidal thoughts or suicidal behavior. If you or someone you know is in extreme distress, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or has attempted suicide, seek emergency help immediately.
If you’ve injured yourself severely or believe your injury may be life-threatening, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Don’t hesitate to seek help if you’re struggling with self-harming behaviors.
Self-care is essential for maintaining good mental health and reducing the risk of self-harm, as these behaviors can have a protective effect against negative feelings and help you to manage stress in a healthier way. Engage in activities that bring you joy and help you relax, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies, and prioritize your physical and emotional well-being by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and seeking social support.
People self-injure for a number of reasons, including as a form of self-punishment, as a way to externalize internal feelings, or as a maladaptive coping mechanism for stress in everyday life. Non-suicidal self-injury can be dangerous as it can lead to complications like infection and scarring and may intensify already problematic thoughts and behaviors. If you or a family member engages in self-injury, an essential first step in the healing process is to seek help.
At Williamsburg Therapy Group, our team of doctoral-level Williamsburg Brooklyn psychotherapists offers a number of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to talk therapy for traumatic experiences around self-injury, including complex trauma. They can also offer help for mental health problems that motivate these behaviors.
If you are seeking therapy for self-injury, call our service coordinator to be matched with a mental health professional that can address any underlying mental health condition that may result in this type of behavior, offer tools for healthy communication and conflict resolution, process traumatic memories, share healthy coping skills to shift away from self-injury, and in general improve quality of life.