Self-harm
Self-harm and nonsuicidal self-injury are serious signs of emotional distress—and without proper treatment, the consequences can be life-altering. At Amen Clinics, we go beyond traditional mental health care by using advanced brain imaging to uncover underlying brain dysfunction, guiding more accurate diagnoses and effective, personalized interventions.
What IS SELF-HARM?
When tension, emptiness, frustration, anger, or self-loathing become unmanageable, some people harm themselves as an outlet for their emotional distress. Self-harm is the act of intentionally injuring oneself to inflict pain that is not intended to be suicidal. Clinically, this is referred to as nonsuicidal self-injury disorder (NSSID), but it may also be known as self-injury, self-mutilation, or self-abuse. People who engage in self-harm often experience feelings of shame and guilt afterward, which unleashes even more emotional distress, which then leads to another round of self-injury. It’s a vicious cycle that can interfere with your everyday routine, steal your happiness, and negatively impact your overall quality of life.
WHO SELF-HARMS?
Nonsuicidal self-injury is most common among adolescents and young adults, and some research indicates it is becoming more prevalent. In a 2012 study in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 17% of adolescents reported engaging in self-harm at least once. Among college students, 15% reported at least one incident of non-suicidal self-injury, according to a 2011 study in the Journal of College Health. Self-harm is not as common in children or adults. In kids ages 5-10, about 1.3% self-injure. Among adults, it’s estimated that about 5% practice some form of self-harm.
Self-harm is more common in females, who make up as much as 65% of all those who injure themselves. However, some experts suggest that self-injury may be underreported in boys and men.
What are the Symptoms of Self-Harm?
If you’re worried that a loved one may be practicing self-injury, look for these warning signs:
- Scars (often in patterns or spelling out words)
- Frequent cuts, bruises, or scratches
- Unusual stories about accidental injuries
- Always wears long-sleeves or long pants
- Problems with school performance
- Trouble with friendships and dating
- Keeping sharp objects on hand
- Impulsive and unpredictable behavior
- Withdrawal from social activities
Untreated SELF-HARM CAN LEAD TO:
- Scarring
- Nerve Damage
- Broken Bones
- Infections
- Hair Loss
- Concussions & Brain Injuries (from headbanging)
- Suicide Attempts
What ARE Causes of Self-Harm?
People who have experienced bullying, sexual abuse, abandonment or emotional trauma may be at increased risk of self-harm. Having a mental health disorder or using drugs or alcohol also heighten the risk of self-injury.
SELF-HARM AND CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
Research shows that nonsuicidal self-injury is often seen with other mental health conditions, including the following:
- Anxiety Disorders: Approximately 72-89 percent of people who self-harm also have an anxiety disorder.
- Depression: About 72-79 percent of people who engage in NSSI also suffer from depression.
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Research suggests that 25-28 percent of people who self-harm also struggle with symptoms of PTSD.
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Anywhere from 20-52 percent of people who intentionally self-harm also have BPD, and approximately 75 percent of people with BPD frequently engage in these behaviors. BPD is the only mental health disorder in which recurrent nonsuicidal self-injury is part of the diagnostic criteria.
- Substance & Alcohol Abuse: About 9 percent of people who self-harm have a substance abuse problem and 25-33 percent of people with alcohol dependence also have a history of intentional self-injury.
- Eating Disorders: About 27-61 percent of people diagnosed with the binge-purge subtype of anorexia nervosa, 26-55 percent of those with bulimia nervosa, and 13-42 percent of those with the restrictive subtype of anorexia also have a history of self-harm.
- Dissociative Disorders: Approximately 69 percent of those with dissociative disorders exhibit self-harming behaviors.
- Suicidal Thoughts and Gestures: Although NSSID is considered nonsuicidal in nature, up to 40 percent of people who self-harm think about suicide, and approximately 50-85 percent have made at least one suicide attempt in their lifetime. Because of this, it is absolutely critical to seek help for any form of self-harming behavior.
Why Choose Amen Clinics for TREATING SELF-HARM ISSUES?
When it comes to treatment for self-injury, one size does not fit all! What works for one person may not work for another—or could even make your symptoms worse! At Amen Clinics, we use brain SPECT imaging as part of a comprehensive evaluation to diagnose and treat people struggling with self-harm and co-occurring mental health conditions. Based on your complete assessment, we can create a personalized treatment plan for you. At Amen Clinics, we believe in using the least toxic, most effective therapies and strategies to optimize your brain function so we can help you get a handle on your emotional distress and find a path toward a happier life.
Self-Harm Brains Work Differently
Brain-imaging studies reveal abnormal activity in the brains of people who self-injure. A 2019 study found that the brains of girls who engage in self-harm show abnormalities similar to those seen in people with borderline personality disorder. These included decreased volume and abnormal function in areas of the brain involved in regulating emotions. Decreased brain volume is also commonly seen in people who have experienced emotional trauma, abuse, or neglect.
“You are not stuck with the brain you have.”
– Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
COMMON FORMS OF SELF-HARM
Some of the most frequently used forms of self-injury include:
- Cutting: Considered the most common type of self-mutilation, cutting involves using any sharp object to break the skin. People often create parallel lines or tracks on the hands, arms, or thighs, or they may spell out words on their skin. Cutting is more commonly seen in females.
- Burning: Using cigarettes, matches, or any other hot objects to burn the skin.
- Head banging: Hitting your head against a wall, desk, or other hard object.
- Punching: Hitting yourself, the wall, or other objects. This is more commonly seen in males.
- Scratching or pinching: A person may scratch until they bleed or pinch the skin until it leaves a mark or causes bleeding.
- Skin picking: Picking at scabs or wounds to prevent healing or tearing or ripping the skin.
- Insertion: Pushing things, such as glass, into the skin.
- Poisoning: Consuming harmful substances, such as drinking bleach or swallowing batteries.
- Pulling hair: Known as trichotillomania, people pull out their own hair and sometimes consume it.
“With A Better Brain Comes A Better Life”
– Daniel G. Amen, M.D.