Defining Self-Injury

Whenever we talk about “self-injury,” we are describing the person that inflicts physical pain upon oneself for the purpose of relieving or lessening the amount of emotional pain or stress one may be experiencing at a given point in time. It is a coping mechanism the young person has incorporated as a way of life in order to survive the emotional pain that may seem unbearable to them.

These injuries are usually done in private, are self-inflicted, and do not involve the assistance or control of anyone else. The seriousness of the injuries will vary anywhere from heavy scratching of the skin to marks and lesions causing tissue damage severe enough to leave permanent scarring. Many believe that the act is addictive and progressive. One may start with giving into the desire of heavy scratching, but eventually the “high” felt during the scratching period will no longer satisfy the desire. Thus, some other form of self-injury will start taking form. Eventually, the person may find themselves cutting their bodies more consecutively and in more harmful ways.

Methods of Cutting

There are different ways that an individual will satisfy the need to self-injure. The most common practice is “cutting” with the use of razor blades, broken glass, or even writing utensils. Anything that is sharp in nature could end up in the hands of a “cutter” to serve this purpose. Although cutting has been found to be the most common type of self-injury, other actions such as burning and head banging can follow suit. Other methods include but are not only limited to self-punching, biting, skin picking or carving, interference with wound healing (re-opening wounds), hair pulling, and needle sticking.

This behavior often occurs sporadically and repetitively. Oftentimes, it develops into an addictive cycle, and it even becomes an overwhelming preoccupation for some people. Both clinical studies and informal surveys have found that the most popular areas of the body to inflict injuries are wrists, arms, and inner thighs.

Who Self-Injures

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