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Aug 05, 2006
Self-Injury Disorder
by SirGan
 We are talking about Self-Injury Disorder (SID) when pain or injury is intentionally and compulsively inflicted on one's own body without the intent of committing suicide. That’s why- suicide and self-injury disorder are two different things, although many people still think differently! It is usually present when that person is trying to cope with emotional stress. SID is also referred to as Self-Inflicted Violence (SIV) or Self Injurious Behavior (SIB). Symptoms of Self-Injury DisorderThe typical observable behaviors that a person often displays include:
This injury may be aimed at relieving otherwise unbearable emotions, sensations of unreality and numbness, or for other reasons.
Important thing about this syndrome is that psychiatrists still disagree whether self-injury is a diagnosis or a symptom of a disorder. Never mind that- one thing is known, self-injurers suffer in silent shame and isolation. Although most people wouldn’t believe in it- It is estimated that self-injurers comprise at least 1% of the population, with a higher proportion being female, and nearly half admitting to being victims of physical and/or sexual abuse in childhood. That is a great number!
Risk factors for developing SIDSeveral researches done in the past have came to the conclusion that a number of social or psychological factors could have a positive statistical correlation with self-harm. The fact is also that people experiencing various forms of mental ill-health can be considered to be at higher risk of self-harming.
Key issues are:
Possible causes of developing SIDIt is very difficult to speak about possible causes of Self-Injury Disorder because; in most cases-there is no simple reason why people intentionally injure themselves.
Often -people do so to relieve anger, because they are under pressure, suffer from depression, or feel guilt or shame. It has also been linked to people who are victims of abuse or neglect and those who do not receive adequate protection. But, it is extremely important to know that there are simply no rules! People who harm themselves can be: male or female; straight, gay, or bisexual; high-school kids or students; rich or poor; from any country in the world. Their ages range from early teens to early 60s.
Purpose of self-injuringAll this time, experts were asking them self only one question: Why does self-injury make some people feel better? It could be very difficult to answer this question and there are several theories which tried to explain all this!
Although nothing of this has bee scientifically explained- several studies have suggested that when people who self-injure get emotionally pleased. This act supposedly brings their levels of psychological and physiological tension and arousal back to a bearable baseline level. All this tension relieving happens almost immediately
Some experts are saying that one factor common to most people who self-injure is-invalidation. Although all this is very hard to explain- fact is that most of them were taught at any early age that their interpretations of the things around them were bad and wrong. So, what is the result!? They learned that certain feelings weren't allowed. The fact is that, in abusive homes, they may have been severely punished for expressing certain thoughts and feelings. It is important to know that, although a history of abuse is common about self-injurers, not everyone who self-injures was abused. Sometimes invalidation and lack of role models for coping are enough.
It is well known fact that neurotransmitter serotonin has a big role in developing depression! Well, just as it's suspected that the way the brain uses serotonin may play a role in depression, so scientists think that problems in the serotonin system may predispose some people to self-injury. These experts believe that this serotonin is making them tend to be more aggressive and impulsive than most people. Of course, with time- this aggression, combined with a belief that their feelings are bad or wrong, can lead to the aggression being turned on the self.
Diagnosis of Self-Injury DisorderIf an individual shows signs of self-injury, a mental health professional with self-injury expertise should be consulted. The mental health professional will be able to make an evaluation and recommend a course of treatment. Self-injury can be a symptom of psychiatric illness including:
Treatment of Self-Injury Disorder
It is proven that this form of therapy can be used to help a person stop engaging in self-injury.
Several studies done in the past have shown that these therapies may be helpful for self-injurers who have a history of abuse or incest.
Group therapyThere is no doubt- simple talking about condition in a group setting to people who have similar problems may be helpful in decreasing the shame associated with self-harm, and in supporting healthy expression of emotions. It has shown extremely beneficial!
Family therapyThis type of therapy addresses any history of family stress related to the behavior and can help family members learn to communicate more directly and non-judgmentally with each other.
There is no doubt-these approaches are helpful in reducing the stress and tension that often precede incidents of self-injury. Beside the hypnosis- antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication may be used to reduce the initial impulsive response to stress.
DBT or Dialectical behavioral therapy can be very successful for those with a personality disorder, and could potentially be used for those with other mental illnesses who exhibit self-harm behavior.
This form of therapy is generally used to assist those with diagnoses such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. What does this have to do with it? Well, it is simple -diagnosis and treatment of the causes is thought by many to be the best approach to self-harm. There are some problems-in some cases, especially with a personality disorder patients, this is not very effective, which is why more clinicians are starting to take a DBT approach in order to reduce the behavior itself. CBT may be used to help an individual learn to recognize and address triggering feelings in healthier ways.
It is totally reasonably that a person who is self- injuring may be advised to use coping skills, such as journaling or taking a walk, when they have the urge to harm themselves.
Difficulties with treatmentThere are some difficulties in achieving appropriate and effective treatment! This is logical because self-injury brings out many uncomfortable feelings in people who don't do it: revulsion, anger, fear, and distaste. But, important fact is that if the medical professional is unable to cope with her own feelings about self-harm, then she has an obligation to herself and to her client to find a practitioner willing to do this work.
How to cope with self-injuring kids?Kids are especially difficult to treat and several researches have proven that teachers are often the first people to recognize this disorder when a child displays it, even before parents! Every teacher should know that, as a teacher, the best thing that he or she can do is let the child know that you are there to listen to whatever it is that they want to tell the teacher. Also, student should be encouraged to talk to their parents about their problems, although most of them will not be willing to, thinking that their parents will become angry with them.
Every good teaches should keep in mind that he or she should:
PrognosisIt is difficult to tell anything about the prognosis because it varies depending upon a person's emotional or psychological state. It is important to determine the factors that lead an individual's self-injuring behaviors. Experts are saying that it is important to identify any pre-existing personality disorders that need to be treated.
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