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What is self-harm?
Self-harm usually means that a person deliberately causes harm to themselves. Self-harm can include burning, biting, cutting, hitting, scratching, not eating (anorexia), out of control dieting cycles (bulimia), and binge eating.
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Is body piercing a form of self-harm?
Some people believe that body piercing is a form of self-harm. Others argue that body piercing is a form of body art or body decoration. Deciding body piercing is a form of self-harm may depend on your personal beliefs, how much body piercing a person has, the parts of the body that have been pierced and the reasons for the body piercing.
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Why do some people harm themselves?
- To relieve pain
- To feel something other than emotional pain
- Feeling overwhelmed with problems
- Being confused or exhausted by all of the different feelings inside
- Not knowing how else to communicate feelings, wants or needs.
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What triggers self-harming behaviours?
- Thinking about past physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, which often makes all the pain and anxiety come flooding back (more than 50% of people who self-harm have been abused)
- Stressful situations
- Conflict
- Depression
- Self-hatred.
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What are the consequences of self-harming behaviours?
- The relief from emotional pain is only temporary. After self-harming the problems are still there and the thoughts and feelings are still basically the same, such as feeling depressed.
- Feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
- Superficial or deep scars. If cuts or burns are deep then the scars will stay (sometimes forever).
- People staring at injuries or asking questions.
- People judging and sticking labels on a person who is/has been self-harming, such as freak, weirdo, dickhead, attention seeker, crazy, personality disorder.
- Sometimes having to wear certain clothing to hide scars.
- More problems: infection from injuries, hospitalisation, dealing with medical people, trying to explain things to family and friends.
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How to stop self-harming behaviour
- Make a different choice about how to deal with the pain.
- Reach out for help: a qualified counsellor or social worker can help.
- Talk about your feelings, thoughts and actions to someone who is trustworthy, understanding and supportive.
- Learn how to communicate feelings, wants and needs.
- Practice self-care by doing fun and enjoyable things.
- Block out those negative thoughts that keep taking over. You could tell yourself that there is a time and place to think and talk about uncomfortable or horrible things. Distract yourself by keeping busy, doing fun things, reaching out, being with people who care about you.
- Believe and know that you are just as important as everyone else.
- Learn how to set some personal limits. Tell others how you feel and find people who you feel comfortable and safe with and hang out with them more often.
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What can a person do if they know someone is self-harming?
- Try not to overreact. If a person is self-harming it does not necessarily mean they are suicidal.
- Don't label them as "attention seeking" because this behaviour is a genuine cry for help.
- Be there. Be kind. Be sensitive.
- Listen carefully and try to understand.
- Don't judge, lecture, or blame the person.
- Ask someone else who can help if you're not sure what to do.
- If a person has been sexually or physically abused they need to hear and know that they were not to blame.
- If a person has cut themselves deeply, wrap the cut firmly with a bandage or cloth and seek medical help immediately. For this and other serious injuries call 000.
- Get support for yourself.
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More information
This fact sheet was developed for Somazone by Susan Hunt at eCounselling. Copyright © 2004 Australian Drug Foundation.
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