SIAD

March 1, 2010

March 1st is Self Injury Awareness Day. Self injury has been described to me by a friend who harm as a physical expression of internal pain; it is a way to release emotional hurt or overwhelming feelings. In 1996 Princess Diana disclosed that she had dealt with bouts of self injury, which brought awareness to this hidden affliction. Although more people are talking about self harm, many misconceptions and myths exist about this practice. The American Self-Harm Information Clearinghouse began Self Injury Awareness Day as an effort to engage people whose lives have been affected by self-harm by encouraging them to distribute flyers, fact sheets, and brochures or to wear an orange ribbon to draw attention to the facts of self injury. Despite this posting going up after March 1st, I am doing my part. Today’s question is: what is self injury?

A: Self injury is a deliberate behaviour that inflicts physical injury to a person’s own body. It is a coping mechanism that enables the person to cope with intense, emotional distress allowing them to either create a sense of calm, or awakening for those who feel numb and disassociated. The injuries can validate the person’s feelings, creating ‘real’ pain that is easier to deal with than the hidden emotional pain. Self injury has an immediate effect, creating an instant relief, yet the underlying emotional issues remain. In time, self injury can become a person’s automatic response to the ordinary strains of life and both frequency and severity of self injury may increase.

The most common forms of self-injury are cutting, burning, hair pulling, biting and non-suicidal overdosing; however each individual finds their own unique way of harming themselves.

As self injury is a coping mechanism, it is difficult for people who engage in it to stop. The best way to for someone to discontinue the practice is to seek assistance from a counsellor who specializes in working with self injury cases. With proper treatment, new ways of coping will be learned and slowly the cycle of hurting will end.

Sources:
American Self-Harm Information Clearinghouse
Dr. Deb: March 1st is Self-Injury Awareness Day
First Signs
Self-Injury: The Secret Language of Teenagers