What is Self-Injury?
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to deliberately harming one's body tissue without suicidal intent or culturally accepted motivations (Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery).
Common self-injury behaviors are:
Cutting
Scratching
Burning
Punching objects or one’s self to the point of bruising or harming one’s self
However, the behavior or severity of injury does not define self-injury as much as the intention behind the behavior.
Cutting is the most common form of self-injury, however individuals often utilize more than one form of self-injury. These acts may be on various parts of the body, most commonly the hands, wrist, stomach, and thighs.
Who Self-Injures?
Self-injury is often associated with adolescence; however, many adults also engage in nonsuicidal self-injury. While self-injury may start and end during adolescence, it can persist into adulthood or begin later in life. Adults who self-injure are frequently stereotyped as young women who are childish, emotionally reactive, and irresponsible (Gunnarsson, 2023). However, self-injury affects individuals from diverse backgrounds, regardless of age, maturity, intellect, or responsibilities.
Many adults turn to self-injury due to unresolved trauma, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed mental health conditions, or various personal reasons. It can become a method for managing overwhelming feelings of shame, guilt, or anxiety, especially when healthier coping mechanisms seem out of reach or ineffective. Despite societal misconceptions, self-injury among adults is more common than widely acknowledged, often hidden due to the stigma that discourages open conversations about mental health.
Why do people Self-Injure?
Each individual who self-injures has their own answer to this question. For some, self-injury becomes a way of coping with distress and intense emotional pain. Others may use self-injury to feel a sense of control during chaotic experiences. Some individuals engage in self-injury as a form of self-punishment or as a way to break through feelings of emptiness and emotional detachment.
On our website, you will also find pages dedicated to exploring the correlation between self-injury and specific mental health diagnoses. Disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and dissociative disorders are often misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or left untreated for years. Our hope is to help individuals identify factors that may hinder their recovery journey and provide the support needed to get the right help.