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March is self-injury awareness month. This month we look at why people might turn to self-harm as a way to relieve stress and how to help.
 
 
MARCH 2021
 
Why do some people inflict self-harm?
Some people turn to self-injury or harm in response to emotional distress. These non-suicidal injuries are a way for a person to mirror psychological pain with physical pain.

But, as the person on the outside, witnessing self-harm to a loved one can be confusing and scary. The tendency is to jump to the idea that this person was trying to commit suicide when that is not usually the intent.

Why would someone choose to hurt themselves? There are a few reasons.

1.) Feeling pain can provide a distraction from what they are thinking. It focuses their attention on their physical feelings rather than thoughts and strong emotions. It allows them to regain some control.

2.) This intentional physical harm can provide a temporary calming effect, allowing them to release some of the tension associated with their strong emotions.

3.) It can be a way of "feeling something" when the person is emotionally numb or dissociated.

4.) It can be a form of expression when the person doesn’t know another way to communicate or document their strong emotions.

5.) A form of punishment. If they feel they are undeserving or have done something wrong this can be how they punish themselves.

6.) Self-harm can provide a temporary but intense feeling of euphoria immediately after.

Read our latest blog post for more on self-injury and how to help: https://cwpsychologicalservices.com/2021/03/02/self-injury/


March is Self-Injury Awareness Month

Self-harm is not something you just see in movies. It is actually relatively common, so common in fact that March has been named Self-Injury Awareness Month. It is estimated that as many as 17 percent of teenagers and 5 percent of adults will experience some form of self-injury, according to the American Psychological Association. Self-injury commonly includes skin cutting, headbanging or hitting, and/or flesh burning.


Self-injury is not a healthy coping mechanism. It is not a sustainable way of managing emotions and/or relieving stress. It can cause permanent damage to a person’s body and puts them at risk for infection and death, if gone too far. It is important that if you suspect someone is inflicting self-harm they be provided the proper mental help so they can heal.

A detailed list of signs that someone could be injuring themselves can be found on our blog: https://cwpsychologicalservices.com/2021/03/02/self-injury/

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Can Help

DBT can be a successful treatment for those struggling with self-harm behaviors. DBT focuses on improving emotion regulation and distress tolerance, which are both factors that contribute to self-harm.

DBT teaches clients how to build and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships which, in turn, helps to build self-esteem. The higher a person's self-esteem, the less perceived need to turn to self-harming behaviors.

DBT helps clients to better handle stressful situations. It helps people identify their emotions and triggers and then teaches healthy coping mechanisms. Through DBT clients can develop stronger distress tolerance. Learning how to manage stress is key to recovering from self-harm behaviors.

DBT helps to enhance a client's worldview. Those who engage in self-harm often don't realize how their actions impact those around them. DBT helps to show clients how their behaviors are impacting their friends, family, and the rest of society. This, in turn, helps them weigh their actions more rationally.

DBT helps to increase self-respect. It teaches clients to be fair to themselves, stick to their values, and be truthful. A greater sense of self-worth makes self-harm behaviors more difficult to engage in.  

At CW Psychological Services we have counselors who specialize in DBT and working with people to develop healthy ways to cope with stress and trauma. We want to help you heal.


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Why do some people inflict self-harm?
03/02/2021 15:58

Some people turn to self-injury or harm in response to emotional distress. These non-suicidal injuries are a way for a person to mirror psychological pain with physical pain. 

The post Why do some people inflict self-harm? appeared first on CW Psychological Services.

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