I Hit Myself in the Face Over and Over Again

People go to peachy lengths to protect themselves from pain and injury. But some people hurt themselves on purpose to help them bargain with bad feelings or thoughts. This is called cocky-damage. People who self-harm don't do it to finish their life—instead, cocky-damage may be the all-time manner they know to survive.

What is information technology?

Self-harm ways that you lot injure yourself on purpose, but you don't intend to die every bit a consequence. Information technology isn't a mental illness—and in many cases, information technology isn't a sign that someone has a mental illness. Instead, cocky-impairment is commonly a way to bargain with difficult feelings or show distress.

When you lot self-harm, you cause some kind of damage to your body. The almost mutual ways to exercise this are cutting or called-for the skin, scratching that breaks the peel, hitting to the indicate of bruising or breaking bones, biting or falling. Some people also take a small-scale overdose of a substance (for example, they take more than than the recommended dose, but not a lethal dose, of an over-the-counter medication) to harm themselves.  Acts of self-harm are sometimes done on impulse, and sometimes they're planned. Certain people who self-harm say that don't feel pain when they hurt themselves, or that they do it to feel physical hurting.

Why do people self-impairment?

• To deal with uncomfortable or unwanted feelings like anxiety or low

• To cope with grief, loss, violence or chronic illness

• To punish themselves or to limited self-hatred or self-anger, or feelings of failure

• To make their emotional pain feel similar physical pain

• To  feel "real", experience anything or to cope with feelings of emptiness or numbness

• To regain control over their body

• To just feel better

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Who does it impact?

• Teens—Self-harm affects 1% to iv% of the population, but rates of self-damage amid teens range from xiv% to 39%. Some teens may feel extreme emotions. They may have more than conflicts with adults and may have to deal with loneliness and peer force per unit area.

• People with certain ways of coping or thinking near themselves—Self-harm seems to be more common in people who feel poorly about themselves. It's likewise more mutual in people who experience like they can't limited their feelings or who have a hard fourth dimension dealing with negative events or emotions. Cocky-damage may also be a way to deal with abuse.

• People living with a mental illness—Sometimes self-harm is a sign of a mental illness. It's seen with a few different illnesses, including eating disorders, depression, feet disorders, substance apply disorders and some personality disorders.

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What can I do nearly it?

It's important to talk to someone about self-harm because it can result in a serious injury or become a habit.¹⁶ Self-harm may also be a risk factor for future suicide attempts.¹⁷

What can I do nearly self-harm injuries?

• In an emergency—Equally in whatsoever health emergency, phone call 911 or get to the nearest emergency room.

• At home—Care for whatsoever injuries properly. It's always a good thought to see your doctor if you lot're not sure what to exercise. In BC, y'all tin can likewise call 811 and talk to a registered nurse.

What can I do about self-harm behaviours?

Many people who self-impairment don't have a mental illness. Just some people cocky-harm as a result of a mental affliction. That'south why it's important to tell your doctor if you're experiencing any other symptoms, like troubling thoughts or feelings. If self-impairment is related to an illness, treating that illness can reduce the thoughts or feelings that lead to self-damage.

The post-obit treatments may exist helpful on their own or as part of your treatment plan:

• Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT): CBT teaches you how your thoughts and behaviours affect your mood. This may be particularly helpful for people who cocky-impairment because information technology may reduce the feelings that trigger cocky-impairment. CBT may improve anxiety, depression, self-esteem, problem-solving skills and coping skills in people who cocky-impairment.

• Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT): DBT teaches y'all how to supplant extreme and rigid ways of thinking with more open up and flexible ways of thinking. It likewise teaches skills similar acceptance and trouble-solving, and tin can teach you how to cope with uncomfortable or difficult thoughts, feelings and situations.

• Self-help: Regular exercise, eating well, getting enough sleep, staying in bear on with family unit and friends, joining a support grouping and doing things you enjoy are some things that are adept for everyone's mental health. If you're struggling with self-harm, it may be helpful to discover other healthier ways to cope that work for you, like talking to friends, writing in a journal or practicing relaxation exercises. It'south also a good thought to avoid whatever media (like Tv shows or movies) that makes self-harm look glamorous or 'cool.'

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How do I know if someone I love is self-harming?

It may be hard to tell if someone self-harms, and someone who cocky-harms may attempt to cover up their injuries because they're embarrassed or ashamed. While people may hurt themselves in different means, here are a few alarm signs:

• They often have unexplainable wounds like cuts, burns or bruises

• They have many unexplainable scars

• They frequently say that they're "accident-prone" or have many accidents

• They embrace their body, even during warm weather

Think, someone who cocky-harms doesn't want to die. But if you aren't sure if someone you love cocky-harms or feels suicidal, it'due south all-time to be cautious and get help immediately.

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What can I practice if someone I dear self-harms?

Information technology's natural to feel shocked, angry, frustrated, confused or guilty if you find out that someone you dear self-harms. But information technology'due south important to remember that self-harm is a sign that someone you lot dear is in distress. A compassionate arroyo is the best way to help. While everyone'south situation is different, here are some full general things yous can do to help:

• Educate yourself about self-impairment

• Avoid anger and judgment. Your loved 1 isn't trying to injure yous, make you feel guilty or get attending

• Focus on your loved one's concerns or issues, not the deed of self-harm

• Encourage positive, healthy coping methods. Information technology takes time to learn the positive coping skills that tin can replace harmful coping skills. Don't demand that your loved one stop self-harming immediately

• Allow your loved one know that you're willing to heed, but don't forcefulness them to talk

• Encourage your loved one to seek professional help

Helping someone you lot beloved tin exist hard. It'due south important to take care of yourself, likewise. For instance, do things you lot bask, talk with a friend about your own feelings and/or set boundaries for how much you lot can assist the person you love. If you're having a difficult time coping with loved one's self-harm, extra support from a mental wellness professional person or support grouping may be helpful.

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Where do I go from here?

Note: If yous hurt yourself badly, or see that someone you care near has, phone call 911 or become to the nearest emergency room. If you lot always feel like ending your life, talk to someone and go help right away. If you need assistance or think that someone y'all dear needs aid, telephone call ane-800-SUICIDE.

In addition to talking to your doctor or mental wellness professional, check out these resource for more than information nearly self-harm:

BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Employ Information
Visit www.heretohelp.bc.ca for info sheets and personal stories nigh self-harm. You'll too find more information, tips and self-tests to assist you understand many different mental health problems.

Kelty Mental Health
Contact Kelty Mental Health at www.keltymentalhealth.ca or 1-800-665-1822 (price-complimentary in BC) or 604-875-2084 (in Greater Vancouver) for information, referrals and support for children, youth and their families in all areas of mental health and addictions.

INSYNC (Interdisciplinary National Self-Injury in Youth Network Canada)
Visit www.insync-grouping.ca to acquire more about self-injury and find links to other websites for youth who self-injure, besides as data and links for families and friends.

Resources available in many languages:
*For each service below, if English is not your first language, say the name of your preferred language in English to exist continued to an interpreter. More than than 100 languages are bachelor.

HealthLink BC
Call 811 or visit www.healthlinkbc.ca to admission gratuitous, non-emergency health data for anyone in your family, including mental wellness information. Through 811, you can also speak to a registered nurse about symptoms you're worried virtually, or talk with a pharmacist nigh medication questions.

1-800-SUICIDE
If yous're not sure if self-harm is a suicide attempt, call one-800-SUICIDE (ane-800-784-2433) to become aid right abroad, any time of solar day or night. It'due south a complimentary phone call.

Nigh the author

The Canadian Mental Health Association promotes the mental wellness of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing a mental illness through public pedagogy, customs-based research, advocacy, and direct services. Visit www.cmha.bc.ca.

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Source: https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/self-harm

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