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Self-injury
is an increasing issue among high school and college
students-and one you may have heard more about in the
news and popular media. The American Self-Harm Information
Clearinghouse (ASHIC) defines self-injury as "the
deliberate, direct injury of one's own body that causes
tissue damage or leaves marks for more than a few minutes
and that is done in order to deal with an overwhelming
or distressing situation."
Self-injury
is also referred to as cutting, self-mutilation, self-abuse,
self-destructive behavior and parasuicidal behavior.
It's an attempt to alter a mood state and to cope with
overwhelming feelings. Essentially, intentionally injuring
oneself is a form of self-medication. Many sufferers
say it's a way to "feel" something.
Yet,
self-injury is not a suicide attempt. While the ASHIC
reports that self-injurers are at a higher risk for
committing suicide, if they intend to complete a suicide,
they will often use a means different from their preferred
method of self-injury.
During the next few months, you may spend more time
with your student due to holiday breaks. As a result,
you may notice new behaviors, including signs of self-injury.
Some things to look for include ways that self-injurers
wound themselves, such as:
-
cutting the skin with a sharp object such as a knife,
razor, glass or pins
-
burning, biting or hair pulling
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hitting their body with an object or their own fists
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hitting a heavy object, like a wall, often with their
own head
-
picking at scabs or skin until it bleeds
-
inserting objects into body openings
Cutting,
burning and head banging are the most common forms of
self-injury. These behaviors can leave both physical
and emotional scars. Self-injurers often tend to hide
these scars and bruises under baggy or ill-timed (i.e.
long sleeves on a hot day) clothing.
And
self-injury can be addictive. Self-injurers may eventually
develop a tolerance to pain, making it necessary to
increase the severity of the injury in order to get
the desired effect.
If
you're concerned that your student may be engaging in
self-injurious behaviors, talk with a mental health
professional in your community or on campus. Help is
available to assist you in knowing what to say to your
student and how to approach this problem.
From
Topics in Campus Threat Prevention: Eating Disorders,
Body Image & Self-Injury by Lisa Currie, PaperClip
Communications (2004).
Learn
More
-
SAFE Alternatives at www.selfinjury.com
- American
Self Injury Information Clearinghouse at www.selfinjury.org
- Self
Injury and Related Issues at www.siari.co.uk
- Secret
Scars: Uncovering and Understanding the Addiction
of Self-Injury by V.J. Tuner (2002)
- Cutting:
Overcoming and Understanding Self-Mutilation by Steven
Levenkron (1998)
- A
Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language
of Pain by Marilee Strong (1999)
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