Hurting yourself, or thinking about hurting yourself, is a sign of emotional pain. Most people who self-harm do so as a way of coping anger, negative feelings, painful memories, or difficult circumstances. But unlike other harmful coping mechanisms that may be easier to spot, most youth who self-harm are adept at hiding their behavior from friends, family, teachers, and others. The ease of concealing self-harm marks and injuries, combined with a general lack of social awareness of self-harm, makes it difficult to identify warning signs.
Here are some of the warning signs of self-harm to watch out for, especially in teens:
- scars
- Common cuts, burns, bruises, scrapes, or other physical injuries
- Making excuses for new injuries
- Wear long pants and long sleeves even in hot weather
- Signs of blood on towels or clothing or unexpectedly doing your own laundry
- Take out your own trash
- razor looking
- Withdrawal from friends, family or social activities.
What is self-harm like?
Self-harm, also known as self mutilationself harm or notsuicide Self-injury (NSSI) occurs when someone deliberately hurts themselves. The most common forms of self-injury are cuts to the skin, bumps or blows to the head, and burns. Of the many types of self-harmthe cut is the most common, making up around 70-90 percent of self-harm.
The cut often (but not always) occurs on the arms, legs, genital region, or abdomen. Young people may use a variety of objects and methods to self-harm, including razor blades, scissors, pens, or even bottle caps. Although some teens who self-injure may leave their injuries visible to draw attention As a cry for help, most people who cut themselves hide their marks or scars or give false explanations of how they happened (blaming their scratches on a pet or a fall, for example).
Other forms of self-harm include:
- scratch
- Hair pulling (also known as trichotillomania)
- Pick existing wounds
- Carve symbols or words into the skin
- Puncture of the skin with sharp objects such as needles or hairpins
- Drinking toxic substances such as bleach or detergent.
Education about self-harm is key to reducing its prevalence. In recent years, the number of teens seeking emergency care for self-harm has increased by 300 percent. This is an amazing statistic. It is imperative that providers help parents learn more about recognizing self-harm, understanding self-harm, and intervening in self-harm.
Self-harm as a coping mechanism:
Research has found that nearly 1 in 5 young people will self-harm at some point during their adolescence. This is a worrying statistic for parents to process, but it’s important to understand. For most teens struggling with self-harm, the primary goal of the behavior isn’t actually to harm themselves. Rather, it is often used as a coping mechanism to deal with intense and negative feelings such as self-loathingdespair, emptiness or fault.
The catharsis experienced when someone self-harms can be addictive. Research has found that the same dopamine cycle that characterizes the classical understanding of addiction it also occurs when someone self-harms: You feel intense negative emotions; you desperately search for a way out or a way to stop the pain; you self-injure to experience a release; you find temporary (perhaps even euphoric) relief; you feel guilty or shame about self-harm; negative feelings begin to rise again; the cycle continues.
Teenagers are particularly susceptible to this cycle. The adolescent brain has a greater number of neural pathways that are driven by dopamine than the average adult brain, meaning the “surge” of self-harm could be “greater” for adolescents. This continues to stimulate repeated cycles of self-harm, which can progress into further forms of self-abuse, including substance use disorders and even suicidal ideation.
But why do so many young people self-harm? The answer, in many ways, is systemic. Recent findings suggest that the rate of self-harm among adolescents increased at 27 percent from 2020-2021, with mass Social isolation Due to the COVID-19 The pandemic plays an important role in this rebound. close to the middle of all youth in the US reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless in 2021.
Essential reading on self-harm
Stripped of adequate social ties and resources during a time of global crisis, many adolescents turned to self-harm as an outlet to attack new feelings of depression, anxietyY trauma. These same feelings often accompany other mental health problems. A study found that of those who self-injure, 20 percent have Personality disorder13.5 percent have adjustment disorders and 11 percent have mood disorders.
Who self-harms?
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, 30 percent of teenage girls and 10 percent of teenage boys admit to intentionally harming themselves each year. Since 2015, self-harm rates have increased 166% for girls ages 10-14 and 62% for girls ages 15-19. The rise in self-harm among Teen girls may be due to their higher propensity to develop depression compared to adolescent boys. Research has also found that adolescent girls with persistent depression are more likely to self-harm. With 1 in 5 teens Thought to have depression, knowing how to spot the signs of self-harm is a critical tool for parents and loved ones.
There is also a disproportionate rate of self-harm among members of the LGBTQIA+ community. About 47 percent of people who are LGBTQIA+ will commit an act of self-harm in their lifetime, more than twice the rate of non-LGBTQIA+ people. stressors related to bullyingnot feeling accepted or safe in being your authentic self, and the combined effects of minority stress create the conditions for many LGBTQIA+ teens to feel powerless and not know where to turn for support.
Adolescents of any socioeconomic level, gender, ethnicityeither sexual orientation can self-harm. Despite many pop culture references to the contrary, self-harm does not have a specific “look.” That is why vigilance and understanding of the nuances of self-harm signs are essential if you want to be able to effectively identify self-harm behavior.
link to suicide
While self-injurious behavior is not always indicative of suicidal ideation or intent, research has found a high correlation between the two. It has been estimated that 70 percent of teens who self-harm have attempted suicide at least once, and 55 percent have attempted suicide more than once.
The addictive nature of self-harm makes it even more likely that young people will escalate their self-harm to include even more harmful and risky behaviors, which can include suicide attempts.
Those who participate in digital self harm— a growing pathway of self-harm characterized by anonymously posting, sending, or sharing hurtful content about oneself online — are 9 to 15 times more likely to attempt suicide. With many teens spending an increased amount of time online, often without parental supervision, it is imperative that families are aware of this type of digital self-harm. Violence is popular online, which means that posts related to self-harm and suicide (despite efforts by platforms to monitor and censor them) tend to rank highly. This makes it more likely that a teen who might not otherwise have come across self-harm content will do so without realizing it. On the other hand, teens who create violent content around suicide and self-harm often report feelings of shame and guilt once they realize the permanence of their actions. These feelings may also contribute to higher rates of suicidal ideation among teens who engage in digital self-harm.
One final important note about the consequences of self-harm: Even those who do not attempt suicide after periods of self-harm are still at risk of serious injury. It is not uncommon for self-harm behaviors such as cutting, scratching, and piercing the skin to cause permanent scarring, infection, and even hospitalization.
Intervention
Finding out that your teen is self-harming can be deeply upsetting. You may feel shock, disbelief, sadness, or anger. These emotions are all valid. It’s important to remember that your teen is probably feeling some, if not all, of these emotions, too.
The first step if you discover that your teen has hurt himself is to remain calm. You may not understand the full extent of your behavior or why you self-harm, but it’s important to quickly create a safe space for dialogue. Keep the conversation open, flowing, and nonjudgmental. Let them know that their feelings are valid. Remind them that you love them and that you don’t want them to suffer. Ask them to try to explain how they feel, and if they have difficulty doing so, affirm that it is okay not to have the words yet.
Some teens can dissociate after an episode of self-harm. If this is the case, say his name out loud softly and be patient until he seems more present. In the meantime, provide first aid to any injuries and assess whether a higher level of medical care is needed.
The next step is to seek professional mental health support for your teen. Self-harm is often an indicator of more serious mental health issues, which may require more support than a weekly conversation. therapy can provide.
If you or someone you love is thinking about suicide, get help right away. For help 24/7, dial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. To find a therapist near you of you, visit the psychology today Directory of therapies.
