6 Myths & Misconceptions About Self-Harm

6 Common Myths About Self-Harn

6 Myths & Misconceptions About Self-Harm

Self-harm can be a difficult subject to discuss. It can seem messy, confusing, and uncomfortable to talk about. As a result of the uncomfortable stigma surrounding self-harm, there have been many misconceptions that have sprung from this seemingly ambiguous problem.

By outlining and discussing these myths, truth can be brought this issue helping to improve the lives of those who are struggling.

Myth:  Self-harm is Just For Attention.

Self-harm is characterized as non-suicidal self-injurious behavior. It is used to help the individual calm down, regulate emotions, or what is referred to as a grounding activity. When a person becomes overwhelmed with strong feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, or any other intense emotion, the person will self-harm to help regulate the intense emotion.  

By self-harming, the person forces his or her brain to focus on the harm or pain that stems from the self-injurious behavior instead of the intense emotion. Self-harm is also used to help an individual who may be having difficulty losing touch with reality or disassociating. By self-harming, the focus of the pain can bring them back to reality ending the experience of disassociation.  

Myth: Only Troubled Teens Self-harms.

Self-harm is a problem that takes place throughout all ages. In a study that looked at individuals from the U.S. and Europe, 7.5%-8% of 8-12-year-olds, 12%-23% of adolescents, and 4% of adults had engaged in some sort of self-injurious behaviors. With this understanding, it is important to note that self-harm can start prior to the adolescent years, and can take place when a person is in adulthood.

Myth: Cutting is The Only Method of Self-harm.

There is a wide variety of ways in which individuals self-harm. These can include scratching or pinching until bleeding or bruising, hitting oneself, cutting, banging against something, ripping skin, carving, interfering with healing, burning, rubbing, or pulling hair. It is often true that those who self-harm have multiple ways that they self-harm.  

Myth: Those Who Self-harm Are Suicidal.

Not all those who self-harm are having suicidal ideation. Self-harm is used as a form of emotion regulation. It is not an attempt to end a person’s life. People are often using it as a tool to escape or release intense emotions.

Myth: People Can Just Quit Self-harming When They Feel Like it.

Self-harm is a complex problem that can be habit forming. It is often true that it is used as a coping skill and that removing this coping skill without replacing it with another will result in a likelihood of returning to . Therefore, telling someone to just stop, or if a person who is self-harming says she can quit when she wants, is unhelpful and untrue.

Myth: A Little Cut is Not a Big Deal

Self-harm is a big deal despite how small the injury may be. It can be indicative of a larger issue due to a lack of positive coping skills. Self-harm can also leave scars that can last a lifetime. Others may voice their concerns for how they feel about the person self-harming which can result in disruptions in a person’s relationship. Either way hurting a person’s self is never positive despite the emotion regulation benefits it may yield. There are healthier alternatives to emotion regulation that can result in a more fruitful life. 

Do you or a loved one struggling with cutting?  See how Crosswinds can help, get started today!

Reference: Dr. Paul Van Valin’s Why Kids Cut: Exploring the Motive and Goals of Self-harm 

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