What Self-Harm Looks Like

The most common form of self-harm is cutting – on the arms, wrists, thighs, and stomach. However, there are many other ways in which a young person can inflict pain on themselves. For example, severely scratching until they bleed, or banging themselves against objects (or punching things) until bruising/bleeding occurs.

Additionally, a high number of self-harm cases have reports of burning, ripped or carved skin, and also pulling out of hair before ingesting it. An important thing to note is that as many as 70% of people who self-harm use more than one of the above methods to hurt themselves.

Debunking the Myths

Since there is so little understanding about self-harm, several myths exist about the condition. For starters, many people assume that those who self-harm are looking for attention. And one of the biggest negative stereotypes associated with self-harm is that it’s part of a goth culture. In other words, kids are doing it to keep up with a fad. These beliefs are dangerous in that they lead people to dismiss the situation instead of providing much-needed help and support. So what do you need to look out for?

These are some signs of self-harm:

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• Scars on the body parts mentioned previously
• Fresh cuts, bite marks, or bruises
• Excessive rubbing, scratching, or pinching
• Always wearing long sleeved shirts and pants (to hide scars)
• Emotional and behavioural instability, like reckless impulsiveness
• Expressing hopelessness, low self-esteem, or helplessness

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Reach Out For Support

One or any combination of the symptoms mentioned above could point to self-harm. And the most important take-away from this is to know that ignorance is very seldom bliss. Intervention is critical if you are to learn how to cope with life’s stresses in a healthy way.

At ZwavelStream Clinic we have a team of professionals who specialize in the treatment of people experiencing deep emotional pain. So if you or someone you know needs help with self-harm, please contact us immediately.