| SeLf InjUrY |
| Self Injury- is a coping mechanism. An individual harms their physical self to deal with emotional pain or to break the numbness by arousing sensation. |
| How do you know if you self-injure? It may seem an odd question to some, but a few people aren't sure if what they do is "really" self-injury. Answer these questions: Do you deliberately cause physical harm to yourself to the extent of causing tissue damage (breaking the skin, bruising, leaving marks that last for more than an hour)? Do you cause this harm to yourself as a way of dealing with unpleasant or overwhelming emotions, thoughts, or situations (including dissociation)? If your self-harm is not compulsive, do you often think about SI even when you're relatively calm and not doing it at the moment? If you answer #1 and #2 yes, you are a self-injurer. If you answer #3 yes, you are most likely a repetitive self-injurer. The way you choose to hurt yourself could be cutting, hitting, burning, scratching, skin-picking, banging your head, breaking bones, not letting wounds heal, among others. You might do several of these. How you injure yourself isn't as important as recognizing that you do and what it means in your life. Self-injurious behavior does not necessarily mean you were an abused child. It usually indicates that somewhere along the line, you didn't learn good ways of coping with overwhelming feelings. You're not a disgusting or sick; you just never learned positive ways to deal with your feelings. |
| Self injurous behaviors do not categories a person as psychotic, suicidal or mentally disturbed |
| FOrms of SElf INjury -Cutting (Most Common) -Burning -Head Banging -Skin Picking -Hair Pulling -Amputation -Bone Breaking -Scratching -Bitting |
| Self-injury is often about externalizing a pain that is felt inside and that cannot be named or understood. Self-injury is a way to externalize this pain and to care for your self through caring for your wounds. |
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| My artwork |
| DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CUTTING & SCRATCHING: A cut/cutting breaks the skin, in some cases requires stitches, where as scratches/scratching barely breaks the skin surface - it can leave a mark, however is considered 'superficial' and fades from a few hours to a day. BURNING: By using chemicals, cigarettes, lighters, matches, candles, branding (heating metal objects and pressing them into skin). The severity of burns range from minor, 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Some burns require surgery, depending on the severity. |
| Signs of a self-injurer: Wearing long-sleeves or pants in warm weather Explaining frequent minor injuries as accidents or cat scratches Withdrawn, depressed behavior Inability to express emotions Difficulty handling intense feelings |
| National Self-Injury Awareness Day March 1st |
| 1-800-DONT-CUT 911/999 If at ever you feel in danger It is safe and confidential |
| Wear a red ribbon around your wrist to symbolize your support |
| What is SI? |