Understanding and Supporting Those Who Self-Harm

Self-harm awareness month brings attention to a critical issue affecting many individuals, particularly adolescents. Self-harm, also known as self-injury, means hurting yourself on purpose and is often a symptom of extreme emotional distress. At Resolutions Therapy Practice, we believe that awareness and education are the first steps toward healing and recovery.

Understanding Self-Harm

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 30% of teenage girls and 10% of boys report that they have intentionally hurt themselves. One study found that as many as 25% of young people engage in self-injury. These rates demonstrate a significant increase over the past 10 years, especially among girls. From 2001-2015, self-harm increased 166% in girls aged 10-14 and 62% in girls ages 15-19.

Self-harm typically occurs in private and is done in a controlled or ritualistic manner that often leaves a pattern on the skin. Common forms include:

• Cutting

• Scratching

• Burning

• Carving words or symbols on the skin

• Self-hitting, punching, or head banging

• Piercing the skin with sharp objects

• Inserting objects under the skin

Why People Self-Harm

There is no single factor that causes someone to self-harm. Generally, it may result from:

• Poor coping skills: The inability to cope in healthy ways to psychological pain

• Difficulty managing emotions: The inability to regulate, express, or understand emotions

Through self-harm, a person may be trying to:

• Manage or reduce severe distress

• Provide a distraction from painful emotions through physical pain

• Feel a sense of control over their body, feelings, or life situations

• Feel something, even if it's physical pain

• Express internal feelings in an external way

• Communicate depression

• Punish themselves for perceived faults

Warning Signs

Self-harm usually begins in adolescence, around the ages of 13 and 14, when emotions are more volatile and teens face increased peer pressure, loneliness, and conflicts with parents or authority figures.

Warning signs include:

• Scars, often in patterns

• Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises, bite marks, or other wounds

• Excessive rubbing of an area to create a burn

• Keeping sharp objects on hand

• Wearing long sleeves or long pants, even in hot weather

• Frequent reports of accidental injury

• Difficulties in relationships

• Behavioral and emotional instability, impulsivity, and unpredictability

• Statements of helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness

How Resolutions Therapy Practice Can Help

At Resolutions Therapy Practice, we offer comprehensive services designed to support adolescents and families dealing with self-harm behaviors:

• Individual Counseling: One-on-one sessions tailored to the specific needs of the individual, focusing on developing healthy coping mechanisms and addressing underlying emotional issues.

• Family Counseling: Sessions involving parents and siblings to improve family dynamics and communication, creating a supportive environment for recovery.

• Adolescent Counseling: Specialized therapy designed to address the unique challenges faced by teenagers, including self-harm behaviors.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Evidence-based therapy that helps identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.

• Trauma-Informed Care: For those whose self-harm behaviors may be related to past trauma or adverse experiences.

Prevention and Support

While there is no way to completely prevent someone from self-harming, there are strategies that can help reduce the risk:

• Offer help to someone at risk by teaching healthy coping skills for periods of distress

• Encourage social connection to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation

• Raise awareness about the warning signs and what to do when you suspect self-injury

• Encourage reaching out for help rather than keeping concerns secret

• Talk about media influence and develop critical thinking skills about potentially harmful content

When a Friend or Loved One Self-Harms

If you're worried that someone you care about might be hurting themselves, here are some ways to help:

• For your child: Consult your pediatrician or contact our office for an initial evaluation or referral

• For a pre-teen or teenage friend: Suggest talking to parents, a teacher, school counselor, or another trusted adult

• For an adult: Gently express your concern and encourage seeking professional help

Remember, although self-harm is not typically a suicide attempt, it can increase the risk of suicide because of the emotional distress that triggers self-injury.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

At Resolutions Therapy Practice, we're committed to providing compassionate, effective care for those struggling with self-harm behaviors. Our experienced therapists in Lexington and Florence, Kentucky, are here to help individuals find healthier ways to cope with emotional pain and distress.

Don't face this struggle alone. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and begin the journey toward healing and recovery.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.