Self Harming

Self-harm or self-injury means hurting yourself on purpose. One common method is cutting yourself with a knife. But any time someone deliberately hurts herself is classified as self-harm. Some people feel an impulse to burn themselves, pull out hair or pick at wounds to prevent healing. Extreme injuries can result in broken bones.

Symptoms Self Harming

  • Scars from cuts or burns
  • Claiming to have frequent accidents
  • Fresh cuts, scratches, or injurys
  • Broken bones
  • Keeping sharp objects on hand
  • Spending a great deal of time alone
  • Wearing long sleeves and pants even in hot weather
  • Difficulties with interpersonal relationships
  • Emotional instability
  • Impulsiveness and unpredictability
  • Depressed mood
  • Irritability
  • Frequent thoughts of helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness

Symptoms Self Harming

  • Cutting
  • Burning
  • Poisoning
  • Overdosing
  • Carving words or symbols on the skin
  • Breaking bones
  • Hitting or punching
  • Piercing the skin with sharp objects
  • Head banging
  • Pinching
  • Biting
  • Pulling out hair
  • Interfering with wound healing
"Pain is real but so is hope."

-Unknown

Helpful Resources For Self Harming

Helpguide.org. Trusted guide to mental, emotional & social health by focusing on the understanding, symptoms, treatment and resources for self harming disorder.
Harmless.org.uk. Self Harm Support at Harmless providing a range of services about self harm including support, information, training and consultancy to people who self harm
Self Injury Outreach & Support. As part of a collaboration between the University of Guelph and McGill University, we are a non-profit outreach initiative providing information and resources about self-injury to those who self-injure, those who have recovered, and those who want to help.