Self-mutilation means 'self-harm'. It can manifest itself in different ways, such as scratching itself, cutting or hitting. Sometimes self-mutilation is an expression of stress or unspoken feelings, but equally it is a symptom of an underlying disease. The purpose of self-mutilation is not to kill oneself.
Recent research shows that as many as one in ten young people between the age of fourteen and seventeen has ever injured themselves. Women, by the way, do it more often than men.
Symptoms
Self-mutilation can express itself in different ways. Examples are:
- Scratching yourself
- Bite yourself
- Cutting yourself
- Cigarette expressions on your own skin
- Hitting yourself
- Head banging against the wall ('head banging')
- Pulling out hairs (trichotillomania)
- Poisoning yourself (auto-intoxication)
- Sticking or putting objects in yourself, for example needles
- Cause bone fractures to yourself
Why?
There can be several reasons why people, consciously or not, hurt themselves: to punish themselves, to turn inner, emotional pain into physical pain or to forget other painful things. Trauma victims sometimes use self-mutilation to stop moments of 're-experiencing' of the trauma.
Sometimes self-mutilation is a way to deal with an inner emptiness or to manipulate the environment. The signs of automutilation are often located in visible places of the body. In this way, self-mutilation becomes a form of language, a way to convey a message.
Auto-mutilation has an addictive effect. By hurting yourself, endorphins are released, a natural painkiller that also causes a feeling of euphoria. As a result, it is difficult to stop the harmful habit on your own.
Self-mutilation is not a mental illness in itself, it is rather a symptom of another disease or condition such as borderline syndrome or autism.
Treatment
Sometimes self-mutilation can be treated with medication. If it is an expression of nervousness or tension, the general practitioner may prescribe a sedative. If self-harm is a symptom of depression, antidepressants can help. Finally, if there is a psychosis, then an antipsychotic is the appropriate medication.
However, sometimes treatment may be needed for underlying mental health problems. Then the general practitioner refers the patient to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Based on the diagnosis, he or she can draw up an appropriate treatment, for example psychotherapy.
The injuries of self-mutilation can sometimes be so severe that medical care is needed. This may be done via a referral to the emergency department of a hospital.
