Cutting, burning, self harm… what is it all about?

Many people who experience chronic, high stress or intense anxiety find a sense of relief and release by triggering a strong physiological response. This might express itself in a more mild behavior like a nervous jitter or tic, or in extreme cases, self-harm. Controlling how and what the body feels physically can feel like a way to control something when the rest of life is spinning out
of control.Teens navigating new phases of life are particularly at risk.

The waves of new emotions and responsibilities that come with being a teen are overwhelming and can often feel isolating. Navigating relationships, dealing with bullying, and self-esteem issues are just a few of the
situations that can leave a teen feeling like they have nowhere to turn.With no emotional release valve, self-harm or cutting may seem like the only way to feel
something. For many, self-harm is just that, a release. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they
want to die. It also does not mean that there is something inherently wrong with the person. It
means that they are desperately looking for a way to control and release their feelings and have
run out of other options.So what does that mean for those of us who want to help?

It means that the person you know who might be struggling with self-harm doesn’t want to feel that way either. It means it is OK to gently ask what is going on in their life, and how you can help. Self-harm and cutting should be taken seriously, and should not be ignored. Left untreated, cutting and physical self hurt can
have long term negative consequences, including hospitalization.  When someone is engaging in cutting, burning, or other harming acts they aren’t thinking about long-term secondary outcomes like infection of the wound, or cutting in the same spot repeatedly, accidentally going deep enough to hit main arteries or organs.  These are not usual for teens cutting or self-harming, but if their self harm site needs medical attention they are also usually filled with shame and fear of judgement to disclose what they have been doing and are less likely to access medical attention.

If you know someone who is struggling with self-harm, see if you can help them get in contact with a trained mental health professional. Don’t focus on the self-harm behavior, remember that is the symptom not the problem. Focus on the emotions and normalize that seeing a professional can help address them and can help teach them new ways of relieving their emotional turmoil and stress.
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Asking for help when you feel anxious or overwhelmed can feel like too much for some people, but having someone notice they need help and who takes proactive steps to help goes a long way in helping overcome the sense of isolation that often goes along with self-harm.