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Q: What is self-harm?
A: Self-harm is defined as any way that you can physically hurt yourself on purpose. Cutting, burning, picking scabs, pulling hair, over dosing, banging your head, punching walls, and even breaking bones. Eating disorders are also a form of self-harm. Smoking, doing drugs, or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol are actually forms of self-harm as well, because they cause physical damage to the body; however, society has decided that these things are more acceptable.
Many people who self-harm use different methods. They can be very good at hiding the scars, burns, bruises, etc, or making up excuses for them. By this definition, everyone does something that could be considered to be self-harm. It is just that society finds some methods more acceptable than others.
Q: How common is self-harm?
A: Just about anyone can be a self-harmer. A person from any type of background and of any age could practice self-harm. It is far more common than many people realize.
The myth that self-harm is more common among females is probably incorrect. Men and Women may use different methods to practice self-harm, and women tend to seek treatment more often than men.
Q: What are the risks factors of self-harm?
A: Some risk factors include verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse, loss of a parent, childhood illness or surgery, peer conflict, family violence, and feelings of lack of control. There are other things that can bring someone to self-harm and a person may have experienced several of the above risk factors and not self-harm.
Q: Why do people self-harm?
A: There are different reasons people may choose to practice self-harm, but in general it is done as a coping strategy.
Usually there is some intense emotion that the person feels they cannot handle, such as anger, frustration, or depression. It may be a way to show people how much they hurt on the inside, to convince others or themselves that their pain is "real", a way to feel alive, or a way to feel like they are in control.
Self-harm may make the person feel better, but afterwards they may feel guilty or regret it because of the marks it leaves on their bodies. Self-harm is a behaviour that trades short-term relief in exchange for long-term pain.
Q: Who self-harms?
A: Self-harm is common among people who suffer from mental illnesses or personality disorders, such as bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. However, not everyone who self-harms suffers from an illness or disorder, and not everyone who is diagnosed with one self-harms.
Q: Why don’t people who self-harm seek help?
A: Many people who self-harm don’t tell anyone. They feel ashamed or embarrassed or don’t think that anything can be done to help them. Sometimes people will talk with a doctor or a counsellor who does not understand about self-harm, and decide that they would rather not tell anyone else. Nobody who self-harms wants people to think that they only do it to get attention.
Remember that help is available, so if you self-harm or know someone who does, try to find a counsellor or doctor who understands self-harm.
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