SELF-HARM TREATMENT
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR TEENS WHO SELF-INJURE
WHAT IS SELF-HARM?
The term self-harm is any intentional or deliberate act that causes harm or injury to one’s body without suicidal intent. This is also referred to as non-suicidal self-injury, or NSSI.
Teen self-harm is considered a compulsive behavior and has the potential to afflict anyone regardless of gender, race, religion, or socioeconomic status. Out of the 2 million individuals who self-harm each year, 90% of them began this behavior in their teenage years. There are many different self-harm methods people use, including cutting with a sharp object, burning, pulling hair, scratching, and picking skin.
RISK FACTORS OF SELF-HARM
While there are no specific identified causes of self-harm in teens, there do remain risk factors. These risks increase the likelihood of your child engaging in these self-injurious behaviors, including:
HISTORY OF DEPRESSION
The detection rate of depression among NSSI patients is as high as 81.3%. Following depression, other common psychiatric diagnoses that co-occur with NSSI are anxiety-related disorders and PTSD.
BEING A FEMALE
WHY YOUR TEEN MAY BE SELF-HARMING
- Being the victim of bullying
- Increased stress levels
- Stress at home
- Loneliness or lack of social support
- Feeling emotionally disconnected from parents or caregivers
- Desire to “fit in” with a group of friends or peers who encourage self-injurious behaviors
- Feeling emotionally “dead” inside
- Feeling “invisible” to parents, caregivers, or peers
Regardless of your teen’s self-harm causes, there is a general underlying outcome: self-harm triggers a teen’s “endorphin effect.” Cutting, burning, punching, or other self-harm behaviors quickly release endorphins into the bloodstream, thus providing a numbing and/or pleasurable sensation. This means your teen may be trying to numb difficult thoughts or unpleasant feelings, and have found that the behavior of self-injury provides some relief.
WARNING SIGNS OF SELF-HARM
- Frequent, unexplained injuries, such as cuts or burns
- Recurrent complaints of unintentional or accidental injury (e.g., “the cat scratched my arm again”)
- Wearing concealing clothing consistently, even if the weather is warm (e.g., long sleeves and pants in the summer months)
- Increased isolation or avoiding social settings, especially social situations that involve wearing less clothing (e.g., a pool party)
- Poor functioning in daily activities, including work or school
- Difficulty managing emotions. For example, dealing with symptoms of depression or anxiety
HOW TO HELP A TEEN WHO SELF-HARMS
- Do encourage him or her to speak up about his or her self-harm.
- Do take the self-harm seriously. It is NOT about attention seeking.
- Do be someone who is a compassionate, nonjudgmental listener.
- Do encourage professional treatment.
- Do try to understand; don’t scold.
Self-harming behavior is extremely harmful physically, mentally, and emotionally. Education is vital in the push towards awareness, improved treatment options, and eradication of emotional distress in adolescents.