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It is called many things - self-inflicted violence,
self-injury, self-harm, parasuicide, delicate cutting, self-abuse, self-mutilation
(the last tends to annoy people who self-injure).
Self-injury is self-inflicted physical harm severe enough
to cause tissue damage or marks that last for several hours,
done without suicidal intent.
Self-harm is a way of coping, an attempt to deal with other
problems.
Body markings (piercing, tattooing, etc) that are done as
part of a spiritual ritual or for ornamentation purposes generally
aren't considered self-injury.
Self-injury is done as a way of coping with overwhelming
psychophysiological arousal.
This can be to express emotion, to deal with feelings of
unreality or numbness, to make flashbacks stop, to punish
the self and stop self-hating thoughts, or to deal with a
feeling of impending explosion.
Self-injury is more about relieving tension or distress than
is it about anything else.
Cutting is the most common form of self-injury,
burning and head-banging are also very common. Other forms include biting, skin-picking,
hair-pulling, hitting the body with objects or hitting objects with the body,
etc.
Self-harm is more common among girls, but guys sometimes
self-injure, too.
People may cut themselves on their wrists, arms, legs, or
bellies. Some people self-injure by burning their skin with
the end of a cigarette or lighted match. When cuts or burns
heal, they often leave scars or marks.
Self-harm is
a problem that many people are embarrassed or ashamed to discuss. Often, individuals
try to hide their self-harm behaviours and are very reluctant to seek needed psychological
or even medical treatment. Others want to be noticed so that intervention can
take place.
It is not unusual for people who injure themselves to also suffer
from an eating disorder like anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder.
It is not uncommon
for individuals who struggle with an eating disorders to suffer from other associated
psychological disorders and/or other addictive or self-destructive behaviours
that co-exist with their eating disorder. Self-inflicted violence is often seen
in women and girls who struggle with an eating disorder.
Studies discovered
that individuals who binge and purge in some form are more likely to demonstrate
self-injurious behaviours.
People who "self-injure" are not usually suicidal.
Self-harm is a way of coping, a way to stay alive and not to commit suicide. They
release unbearable feelings and pressures through self-harm, and that eases their
urge toward suicide. Although some individuals who self-injure do later attempt
suicide, they almost always use a method different from their preferred method
of self-harm.
Many famous stars have had
the courage to talk about their struggles and have admitted to having self-injurious
behaviour, some have recovered, some have not.
The following men and women are very
courageous to talk about their "dark secret" and I'd like to thank
them for their honesty, courage and openness.
Actress Angelina Jolie, who also struggled with an
eating disorder in her younger years, spoke publicly about
her experiences with self-injury and that she used to hurt
herself as a way of coping. "I went through a period when
I felt trapped, cutting myself because it felt like I was
releasing something."
Actor
Johnny Depp acknowledged that he hurt himself physically at a young age because
of his insecurities and family problems. He has about seven or eight scars from
practicing self-harm.
Irish actor Colin Farrell spoke about his self-injurious
behaviours, including ripping out his own hair in moments of torment.
"Garbage" singer Shirley Manson went public
with her experiences with self-harm because she wants to help
others with sharing her story.
Princess Diana, who also struggled with an eating
disorder, admitted in a television interview that she intentionally
cut her arms and legs.
Actress Christina Ricci, who also struggled with anorexia,
admitted to cutting herself in the past. "I'd be upset, so I'd do it, and
it would calm me down. It's a horrible way to feel better."
Singer and songwriter Fiona Apple, who also developed
anorexia after being raped at the age of twelve, used to harm
herself in the past.
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