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Self-harm is intentional conduct that is considered harmful to oneself. This is most commonly regarded as direct injury of one's own skin tissues usually without a suicidal intention. [1] [2] [3] Other terms such as cutting, self-injury, and self-mutilation have been used for any self-harming behavior regardless of suicidal intent.
- Self-Injurious Behavior Inhibiting System
A patent drawing of the SIBIS. The Self-Injurious Behavior...
- Self-destructive Behavior
Rather than deal with this fear, socially self-destructive...
- Self-hatred
Self-harm is a condition where subjects may feel compelled...
- Self-Injurious Behavior Inhibiting System
- Overview
- Symptoms and Causes
- Diagnosis and Tests
- Management and Treatment
- Prevention
- Additional Common Questions
Self-harm means hurting yourself on purpose. People may self-injure for many reasons. For some, it might feel like relief, like taking the lid off a pressure cooker. Others might self-harm because physical pain might remind them that they’re alive. But self-harm can sometimes be more severe than intended or lead to infection. Treatment is available.
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OverviewSymptoms and CausesDiagnosis and TestsManagement and TreatmentPreventionAdditional Common Questions
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What are the symptoms of nonsuicidal self-injury?
If you self-harm, you may try to hide it from those around you. You might wear long sleeves or pants to cover up, even if it’s hot outside. Or you might tell stories to explain your injuries as an accident. Even so, other people might notice the following symptoms of self-injury: Scabs or scars in a particular shape or cluster. Multiple burns in the same size or shape. Frequent accidents that lead to new scratches, bite marks, bruising or swelling. Issues with impulse control, like they just can’t stop scratching an area of skin.
What causes someone to self-harm?
It’s hard to say exactly what causes a person to self-harm. But certain mental health conditions are linked to self-injury, including: Anxiety. Autism. Bipolar disorder. Borderline personality disorder. Depression. Disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorders, like conduct disorder and intermittent explosive disorder. Dissociative disorders, especially dissociative identity disorder and dissociative amnesia. Eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa. Gender dysphoria. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep disorders. Substance use conditions and disorders, including alcohol intoxication, alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder.
How is it diagnosed?
Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder can be difficult to diagnose. People who self-harm tend to hide their injuries and avoid talking about them. Healthcare providers don’t use a specific test to diagnose self-harm. Instead, they inspect your injuries, looking for patterns and scars from previous self-harm. They ask questions about your medical and social history. They also talk with you about what’s going on in your life. They look for things that might add stress, like financial problems, a recent death in the family, trouble at school, bullying or a break-up.
How is self-harm treated?
If you see a healthcare provider about self-harm, they’ll first treat your injuries if needed. Longer term, they may recommend therapy and/or medications to help manage underlying mental health conditions and life stressors. Advertisement
What are the possible risks of not treating self-harm?
Getting treatment for self-harm is important because it has several potential short- and long-term risks. Short-term risks Sometimes, self-harm leads to issues you didn’t intend, including: Medical complications. Self-harm behaviors can lead to infections, nerve damage and permanent and/or severe scarring. Sometimes, it can lead to severe injuries or death. Social problems. Self-harm can — intentionally or unintentionally — affect your relationships with family, friends or other loved ones. It can also affect how you feel in social settings like work or school. Long-term risks Self-harm can also lead to long-term issues, including: Worsening mental health. Self-harm can lead to feelings of shame, guilt or regret. You might worry about people noticing your injuries and go to great lengths to cover or hide injuries or scars. More severe injuries. Self-harm behaviors can often escalate. You might start to self-harm more frequently or your self-harm may become more severe. Suicide risk. Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder doesn’t involve suicidal intent. But the risk of attempting or dying by suicide is much higher for people who self-harm. Care at Cleveland Clinic Mental Health Care Make an Appointment
Can self-harm be prevented?
Preventing first-time self-harm isn’t always possible, but seeking help from a mental healthcare provider can reduce the chances that someone will continue to self-harm.
When should I see a doctor about self-injury?
If you realize that you (or notice that someone you care about) are self-harming, reach out to a healthcare provider. Your injuries may require medical care. It may also help to know that you’re not alone. Your healthcare provider is there to listen and support you. They’ll recommend a treatment that’s right for you.
How does pain affect people who self-harm?
Part of why self-harm can be a coping mechanism is because of how your body processes and reacts to pain. When your body encounters something that can damage it, nerve endings in the affected areas send emergency signals to your brain. One of the things your brain does in response to those signals is to release beta-endorphins. These chemicals trigger a domino effect that makes you feel better for a short time. But the effect doesn’t last very long. So, people who self-harm may use it more often to try to feel better. A note from Cleveland Clinic For many people, self-harming behaviors may be difficult to understand. For those who self-harm, doing so may feel like it’s the only way to feel better or to have some control in their lives. While people might not mean to endanger themselves, self-harm still has risks. Because it isn’t a sustainable way to feel better, it also negatively affects your physical and mental health and well-being. If you feel the need to self-harm or are doing so, it’s OK to ask for help. Seeking care for self-harm is no different from seeking medical care for a physical condition. It may not feel like it now, but it’s possible for you to feel better both physically and mentally. Medically Reviewed Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/09/2023. Learn more about our editorial process.
Apr 11, 2023 · Self-harm is also known as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). It’s when you hurt yourself directly and intentionally, but without the goal of ending your life. According to a 2022...
Self-harm is when you hurt yourself as a way of dealing with very difficult feelings, painful memories or overwhelming situations and experiences. Some people have described self-harm as a way to: express something that is hard to put into words. turn invisible thoughts or feelings into something visible. change emotional pain into physical pain.
Apr 24, 2023 · Self-harm refers to when a person hurts their own body on purpose. It is more common amongst women than men. A person who self-harms usually does not mean to kill themselves, but they are at higher risk of attempting suicide and dying by suicide if they do not get help. Causes. Self-harm tends to begin in teen or early adult years.
Oct 8, 2021 · Self-harm is a way of trying to ease emotional pain through intentionally causing physical harm. Self-harming behaviors often include self-injury, like cutting or burning the skin, and intentional self-poisoning, like taking more medications than prescribed. Many people who deliberately harm themselves do not intend to kill themselves.
