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Self-Harm
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What is Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)? Self-Injury as the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent. It is also sometimes referred to as non-suicidal self-injury, self-injurious behavior, or deliberate self-harm. Although cutting is one of the most well-known self-injury behaviors, it can take many forms ranging from cutting or burning to self-bruising or breaking bones. Hands, wrists, stomach, and thighs are commonly affected areas, though self-injury can happen anywhere on the body. The severity of self-injury can range from superficial wounds to lasting scars or disfigurement.
Self-injury is primarily used as a maladaptive coping method. When faced with situations that evoke strong and overwhelming emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger, or even emotional numbness, self-injury is used to manage or reduce these feelings. Many also report that they experience self-injury as an expression of self-directed anger or punishment. For some, self-injury is also socially reinforced, such as when others pay more (or less) attention to an individual following an act of self-injury. Read more |
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SMU Anxiety and Depression Research Center Last update: 09/25/21
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