Self-injury can be defined as any intentional self-inflicted harm. There are many different reasons and ways in which people may self-harm, however it is often used as a method of coping with deep emotional or psychological troubles. While some self-harmers may experience some relief from these unbearable feelings when they self-harm, it usually results in suppression of the issues at heart and may lead to continually more severe self-harm being required to achieve this effect. There is much debate in the professional community about self-harm and its treatments, however it is generally accepted that self-harm is not an effective coping mechanism and that without help from a health professional or counsellor it may very difficult to stop and can have severe consequences.

If You Are Self-Harming

It is important that you seek help to deal with the thoughts and feelings that may be driving you to self-harm, as while you may feel some relief from these feelings immediately after self-harming, they are likely to become stronger and less able to be controlled in the future. Speaking with a counsellor, or another health professional, can help you explore your reasons for self-harming and develop some healthier ways to cope with the associated feelings and emotions.

How to Help Someone Who May Be Self-Harming

If someone you know is self-harming, the best thing to do is approach them about this behaviour and let them know that you are concerned and would like to help. Offer to be there if they need someone to talk to and suggest that seeing a counsellor or another health professional may help them deal with these terrible feelings they must be experiencing to inflict this upon themselves. Do not be shocked and afraid of their self-harm, as this may encourage them to continue to hide their self-harm from others. Removing possible weapons can be helpful in the first instance, however taking extreme measures, such as preventing the sufferer from leaving the house and so forth may serve to encourage them to seek other, sometimes more severe, methods to self-harm, and if his/her reasons for self-harming remain ignored, his/her desire, or need, to self-harm is unlikely to go away.