What is Self Harm?

Self-Harm covers a wide range of ways in which people either express or relieve overwhelming feelings of emotional pain or distress. For many it acts as a coping mechanism. It can ‘help in the moment’ - thus serving a positive function at that time but the relief or release does not last and is often followed by shame or guilt about the act of self-harm, this then triggers a return to the original feelings which build up again to an intense level leading to a recognised "cycle" of self-harm.

Self-harm includes

Cutting Types of Behaviour:

Examples include: picking, scraping, burning, scalding,
inserting objects under the skin or into an orifice,
swallowing objects or harmful substances.

Abuse of Alcohol, Drugs etc:

Binge drinking and alcoholism
Use of solvents, smoking,
Drug overdoses - to ‘blot out’ rather than a suicide attempt

Use of food:

Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating,
vomiting, compulsive eating, over-eating

Risky and/ or obsessive/ compulsive behaviour

Compulsive over-exercising
Excessive risk taking eg. putting oneself in dangerous situations