Self-Harm

Self-harm (sometimes called self-injury), is when you deliberately cause physical harm to yourself. This is usually done in secret. Often, no one else knows about it. Some examples of this behaviour include cutting or burning your body, hitting or biting yourself or pulling out your hair. Some people report feeling a sense of immediate relief from their emotional pain after harming themselves, but this is short-lived and it doesn’t help in the long run. You need to address the thoughts and feelings that caused you to engage in self-harm behaviour.

Self-harm is often used to cope with painful feelings. It is not necessarily a suicide attempt. However, many people die from self-inflicted injuries.

It might seem difficult, but it’s important that you seek help from someone who can assist you to find healthier ways to deal with your emotional pain. It is also very important to take care of any physical injuries you may have caused. Seek immediate medical attention if you have severe injuries or thoughts of suicide.

Click here to make a referral for counselling to help you deal with the issues that are causing you to harm yourself.