There are multiple ways to deal with mental health struggles, healthy and unhealthy. Example of healthy ways to cope are talk therapy, breathing techniques, exercises, etc. These are some of the best ways to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and any mental health struggle a person is going through. One of the unhealthy ways to cope is by physically harming oneself. Self-harm is an unhealthy way to manage mental struggles but can become a strong habit that is hard to break, but not impossible.
What is Self-Harm?
Self-harm is when a person deliberately inflicts pain and damage to their own body. Most often it refers to cutting, burning, and scratching. However, internal, or emotional harm is also considered self-harm. This can include consuming toxic amounts of alcohol or drugs, or deliberately taking part in unsafe sex. To people who do not and have never thought about self-harm as a coping mechanism may wonder why these ideas would ever cross someone’s mind. For them, it helps to release the pent-up feelings of anxiety, anger, or sadness. Over time, evidence has found that these emotions will continue to be present and may even worsen through self-harm. Often, the root of these behaviors is found in early childhood trauma. Physical, verbal, or sexual abuse in a person’s past may increase the chances they are to self-harm. This could also be a sign of serious mental health issues that are independent of trauma. This includes depression, anxiety, or borderline personality disorder. Others may move to harm themselves to regain control after a particularly disturbing experience.
Signs of Self-Harm
It can be hard to see signs of self-harm on someone. This is normally done in private and then kept hidden out of shame and fear. The most common place people will do this is on their wrists or their shoulders, places that are easily hidden by bracelets, a watch, or shirts and sweaters. Fresh cuts and scratches, bite marks, burns, scars, bruises, and bald patches are all warnings of self-harm. This can still make it hard to spot someone who is harming themselves as everyone ends up with bruises and scratches as a part of just living life. Other signs that may not be as obvious include someone who is accident prone or who wears long sleeves or pants even in extremely hot weather. This occurs because someone is trying to hide marks they have made. Showing signs of depression or emotional unpredictability could also be signs that a person is causing harm to themselves.
How to Help
Stopping someone from self-harm can be hard. They need to want help and accept it for it to be successful. The most often way to stop this behavior is by seeking help from a therapist who is specialized in self-injury. This can help the individual understand the root causes of the behavior and learn healthier coping mechanisms they can practice. Friends, partners, and other trusted loved ones are also important in helping a person find help. When those loved ones allow a person to talk about their feelings, the urge to self-harm can be mitigated even if the act itself isn’t discussed specifically. This can help a person make sense of the emotions they are feeling. Having a good support system is important for anyone fighting any sort of mental health battle.
There are Better Coping Mechanisms
Self-harm is an unhealthy way to cope with strong feelings. The urge for this is not easy to understand for someone who has never felt it. To the person performing it, this can cause a release of these feelings, however, the act can make the feelings worse. There are healthier ways to manage these strong emotions that need to be taught and learned. This behavior can be stopped through time and with help. If you or someone you love is struggling with self-harm behavior, there is help available. Finding a therapist and talking to loved ones are the first steps towards living a healthier and better life.
