![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamer_easyI've got a book here called "Cutting the Pain Away: Understanding Self-Mutilation". I want to summarise some of the information it gives.
Self-harm is not a suicide attempt.
It is common; the book estimates that two million people in the US harm themselves.
Reasons for self-harm include relieving anxiety; "jolting" oneself out of emotional numbness; getting a kind of control over one's life.
The trauma of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and rape are linked to self-harm. Growing up in an "invalidating enviroment", in which the child is dismissed, belittled, or even punished for expressing their feelings, is also a factor.
The book suggests ways of getting more control over the urge to self-harm. Here are some of them:
- delaying, perhaps with the help of a distraction
- being with others or in public
- "Some people find that the impulse to injure themselves passes if a loved one holds them tightly when they are feeling overwhelmed by their feelings or out of touch with their bodies."
- saying "No!" or "Stop!" out loud
- remove items such as razors from the home
- strong tastes and smells (eg bite an unpeeled lemon)
- squeeze ice cubes in the hand, or stick fingers into ice cream
- harm objects instead of yourself, such as cutting a piece of heavy cardboard, ripping up an old phone book
- snapping a rubber band against your wrist (this is my own method)
- draw on yourself with a red pen or red paint
The book suggests ways of telling someone that you are self-injuring, such as writing it down rather than telling themn face-to-face; having a third person, such as a friend or therapist, present; reassuring them that you're telling them because you trust and love them.
It also suggests ways of helping someone who is self-injuring, such as letting them know you're willing to talk about it if and when they want; staying with them if you think they're in danger; not judging, demanding, or making ultimatums; and encouraging them to see a therapist.
I also found some relevant links:
A closer look at self-harm (summarises the research)
Deliberate self-harm from Reach Out!, an Australian site for young people
A self-harm fact sheet from Teen Health, another Australian site.
Self-harm is not a suicide attempt.
It is common; the book estimates that two million people in the US harm themselves.
Reasons for self-harm include relieving anxiety; "jolting" oneself out of emotional numbness; getting a kind of control over one's life.
The trauma of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and rape are linked to self-harm. Growing up in an "invalidating enviroment", in which the child is dismissed, belittled, or even punished for expressing their feelings, is also a factor.
The book suggests ways of getting more control over the urge to self-harm. Here are some of them:
- delaying, perhaps with the help of a distraction
- being with others or in public
- "Some people find that the impulse to injure themselves passes if a loved one holds them tightly when they are feeling overwhelmed by their feelings or out of touch with their bodies."
- saying "No!" or "Stop!" out loud
- remove items such as razors from the home
- strong tastes and smells (eg bite an unpeeled lemon)
- squeeze ice cubes in the hand, or stick fingers into ice cream
- harm objects instead of yourself, such as cutting a piece of heavy cardboard, ripping up an old phone book
- snapping a rubber band against your wrist (this is my own method)
- draw on yourself with a red pen or red paint
The book suggests ways of telling someone that you are self-injuring, such as writing it down rather than telling themn face-to-face; having a third person, such as a friend or therapist, present; reassuring them that you're telling them because you trust and love them.
It also suggests ways of helping someone who is self-injuring, such as letting them know you're willing to talk about it if and when they want; staying with them if you think they're in danger; not judging, demanding, or making ultimatums; and encouraging them to see a therapist.
I also found some relevant links:
A closer look at self-harm (summarises the research)
Deliberate self-harm from Reach Out!, an Australian site for young people
A self-harm fact sheet from Teen Health, another Australian site.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Just got to ask to make sure...
Date: 2007-05-02 12:17 am (UTC)Re: Just got to ask to make sure...
Date: 2007-05-02 12:20 am (UTC)Re: Just got to ask to make sure...
Date: 2007-05-02 12:29 am (UTC)Speaking of such experience, um, I'm not sure how totally comfortable I would be in discussing such things in a (semi) open forum like this, but it is something I dealt with for 11 years before finally overcoming 5 1/2 years ago, so if there's any questions I might be able to give insight to, I'm willing to give it a shot.
Re: Just got to ask to make sure...
Date: 2007-05-02 02:56 am (UTC)Re: Just got to ask to make sure...
Date: 2007-05-02 03:13 am (UTC)