Self-Harm: Revealing the Roots of Self-Injurious Behaviors

Thrive • Mar 01, 2022

By Thrive Reno Clinical Director and Therapist Kerstin Trachok, CPC

WHAT IS SELF-HARM?

Individuals who self-harm or self-injure purposefully hurt themselves often as a means for dealing with painful memories, distressing emotions, or overwhelming situations. Rather than an attempt at ending one’s life , self-harm is generally a strategy for obtaining relief. Still, deliberately hurting oneself is dangerous and may shift to suicidal ideation.

Self-injury afflicts a wide range of age groups. According to the American Psychological Association , 1.3% of youths ages 5 to 10, 17% of adolescents, and 15% of college students have intentionally hurt themselves. Older adults are also known to self-harm.

Sometimes mistakenly characterized as attention-seeking behavior, self-harm is typically performed in secrecy out of a sense of shame. As a means of coping with related feelings of guilt or remorse, individuals may continue engaging in self-injurious behaviors, which can create a vicious cycle.

Risk factors for self-injury include having a co-occurring mental or behavioral health condition, such as:

Anxiety : Overwhelm or worry characteristic of anxiety can motivate self-injury.
Depression : Feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and numbness associated with depression can provoke individuals to intentionally hurt themselves.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) : BPD can make emotions seem much more intense to affected individuals, driving them to seek relief in self-harm.
Eating disorders : Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder (BED), involve self-harming behaviors. Individuals struggling with eating disorders are also at risk for engaging in other self-injurious behaviors.
Substance use disorders: A form of self-harm in itself, substance abuse can evoke shame. Substances can also curb self-control, impair judgment, and lower inhibitions — all of which can lead to self-injury for someone who may be struggling.
Post-traumatic stress disorder : Trauma and its concurrent painful emotions are closely linked to self-harm.

Individuals who self-injure may be driven by the desire to:

Administer self-punishment
Process thoughts or feelings that are too uncomfortable to express in words
Express suicidal thoughts or feelings without the intention of taking their life
Feel a release or sense of escape
Feel something physical other than numbness
Turn emotional pain into physical pain

Signs that a person is engaging in self-harm can include:

Avoiding situations that involve showing skin, such as swimming
Wearing clothes that cover the skin even when the weather is warm
Engaging in impulsive behaviors
Hiding sharp objects
Spending extended amounts of time alone
Struggling to maintain healthy friendships, family relationships, or romantic relationships
Bloodstains on clothes, towels, bedding, or tissues
Unexplained wounds that appear sporadically or in the same places, often on the wrists, arms, thighs, or torso

It’s important to note that these warning signs aren’t exclusive to self-harm and could also indicate that a person is facing another kind of physical, mental, or behavioral health condition.

STOP SELF-HARM

Self-harm requires treatment from a mental or behavioral health professional. If you suspect a loved one is harming themselves, you can express your concern for their well-being with compassion. Try to approach them without judgment, encourage them to seek clinical support, and offer to help them find care.

Treatment for self-harm should address the underlying thoughts and feelings influencing self-injurious behaviors, while also integrating skills to process distressing emotions and experiences healthily. While treatment approaches for self-harm vary based on the individuals’ diagnosis, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be an effective therapeutic method to teach individuals tangible skills for regulating emotions, implementing mindfulness, and creating a life where there is no space for self-harm.

CULTIVATE A HEALTHY SENSE OF SELF AT THRIVE

If you’re struggling to embrace your emotions constructively, Thrive’s specialists can help you discover what’s at the root of your suffering and guide you on a path to healing. Find out more about Thrive’s therapeutic services by reaching out .

SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY SELF-HARM

Individuals struggling with self-harm may also consider taking advantage of the following free national support resources.

Crisis Text Line : A 24/7 crisis line offering mental health support and crisis intervention. Individuals can text “HOME” to 741-741 to connect with a counselor.
The Trevor Project : A resource dedicated to ending suicide among LGBTQ people. Individuals can text “START” to 678-678 or call 1 (866) 488-7386 to connect with a counselor.
CHADS Coalition : An organization dedicated to advancing awareness and prevention of suicide. Individuals can call or text CHADS’ Family Support Warm Line at (314) 952-8274
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline : A national network of local crisis centers that provides support to those facing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Individuals can connect with the lifeline by calling 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255).

About the Author

Thrive Reno Clinical Director and Therapist Kerstin Trachok, CPC

Kerstin received her master’s degrees in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling from the University of Nevada, Reno. Kerstin has six years of experience in the counseling field working in different settings and a wide array of mental health issues. Kerstin has experience working in schools with children of all ages, clients with psychosis in a hospital setting, adults and teens in private practice, and working at an agency providing counseling to children and families. Kerstin is a fully licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Nevada and received her certification in Complex Trauma Levels I and II. Kerstin has experience working with children, teens, adults and families with trauma, anxiety, grief, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum, suicidal ideation, and behavioral issues. Kerstin is passionate about fostering client’s growth and autonomy while providing a safe and secure space to process emotions. Kerstin uses creative interventions and other tools to allow clients to voice their internal experiences beyond traditional talk therapy. Kerstin’s theoretical approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She uses mindfulness tools and techniques to help clients be present moment oriented, and reduce stress so they may move towards psychological flexibility. Kerstin believes all individuals have the right to live a fulfilling and vital life.

The post Self-Harm: Revealing the Roots of Self-Injurious Behaviors first appeared on Thrive Wellness.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Clean House, Healthy Mind: Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health

By Sage Tippie • 23 Apr, 2024

Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health Spring is a time of new beginnings, change, and transitions, including in our homes. With the warmer weather kicking motivation into high gear, Spring can be a prime time to do a deep clean. Not only is a clean space aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, but it can also help to improve your mental health. Learn about how tidying up your space can also tidy up your thoughts below along with tips for cleaning when you’re struggling with your mental health. 4 Reasons Why Cleaning is Beneficial to Mental health 1.Decreased Stress Not only does an uncluttered space provide a sense of calm, but the physical act of cleaning can release feel-good endorphins, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. As you cross tasks off your checklist, your body also releases Dopamine. Also known as the “happy hormone”, Dopamine provides a sense of accomplishment and pride that can promote motivation in other areas of our lives. 2. Improved Focus Studies have shown that an uncluttered space can also lead to an uncluttered mind. Your focus can be drawn away from important tasks by a chaotic, messy space. Research has also shown a connection between procrastination and clutter, as an unwillingness to tackle larger chores like cleaning can translate over into various areas of our lives. By keeping your space tidy, it can inspire you to stay on top of other major tasks like work and school assignments. 3. Regulated Emotions According to this 2015 study , cleaning can function as a practice in mindfulness, providing an increased sense of calm and inspiration. Slowing down while cleaning gives you room to relax and free your mind of burdens, stressors, and irritants that can affect your mental health. Cleaning can even be considered a practice of self-care as the action helps you to connect with yourself and the outcome allows you to better enjoy your own space. 4. Sense of Order and Control When experiencing mental health struggles, people may feel a lack of control over their lives and emotions. Cleaning even small areas of the home can provide an increased sense of order and control as you cross tasks off your to-do list. Through realizing your own power by simply completing minor tasks like cleaning, it can reaffirm your ability to do more. 10 Tips for Cleaning When Struggling with Mental Health Mental health struggles and disorders commonly create barriers to one’s ability to clean and properly practice personal hygiene. Although these behaviors are normal side effects of mental health disorders, we want to work to aid our clients in cleaning to the best of their ability even in difficult times. Below, Thrive Wellness occupational therapist Meadow Deason shares some helpful tips she gives to clients when they struggle with cleaning due to mental health conditions: 1.Ask For Help Having support to clean can make a huge difference. Do the cleaning with the person helping you and have them hold you accountable. 2. Don't Wait for Motivation Motivation might not come before action, but it can build as you begin to see the results of your efforts. 3. Start Small Start with one area or one task and go from there. For example, concentrate on your bedroom first and then move on to the living room and bathroom. 4. Do Something Daily Even if you do only one small cleaning task a day, doing that one task creates momentum and prevents small tasks from building up and becoming overwhelming. 5. Use Sensory Modulation Change your environment by playing music, adjusting the lighting, or using aromatherapy. This can help to put you in a new headspace for cleaning. 6. Start with "High Impact" Tasks Start with more intensive or all-over cleaning tasks such as picking up clutter or doing the dishes. The visual "noise" of some tasks makes a large impact on the entire space, building motivation to continue cleaning. 7. Make a To-Do List Write a detailed to-do list of tasks and cross them off as you go. Physically marking down what you’ve accomplished can promote increased motivation. 8. Reward Yourself Set up a reward system where you reward yourself with a favorite activity or item when you complete a task as an incentive to clean. 9. Use the Rocket Method Don't think about it, just choose a task, countdown from five or ten and then start. This can help you to avoid potential anxiety and dread that can prevent you from cleaning. 10. Gamify Tasks Make up a game for your tasks or time yourself to promote increased engagement in cleaning. Your ability to complete tasks can be affected by a multitude of different factors and conditions including OCD , anxiety, depression , ADHD , and more. If you are struggling with motivation due to your mental health, help is here at Thrive Wellness.

child getting bandaid from doctor while mother smiles

The Importance of Whole Family Primary Care: A Q&A with Dr. Stephanie Wright

26 Mar, 2024

By serving the whole family, physicians are able to have a better understanding of family dynamics, family health care goals, and history of disease in the family.