Though most people instinctively avoid pain, some women turn to self-harm to cope with thorny emotions like anger, guilt, hopelessness or self-loathing. March is Self-Harm Awareness Month, a time to shed light on this complex topic and offer hope to those silently struggling.
What Is Self-Harm?
Self-harm is when you deliberately hurt yourself – typically without suicidal intent. Common methods include:
- Cutting
- Burning
- Scratching
- Trichotillomania
- Punching or hitting yourself
Many women who self-harm go to great lengths to keep it hidden, injuring body parts they can quickly conceal under clothing. Because it so often occurs in private, self-harm can be hard for your friends and family members to detect.
While self-harm by itself is not a mental illness, it is almost always a symptom of deeper psychological distress and frequently co-occurs with conditions like depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, PTSD and eating disorders.
Why Do Women Self-Harm?
According to the American Psychological Association, most people who self-injure do not intend to end their lives. For many, non-suicidal self-harm is a way of coping with overwhelming emotions when other forms of regulation are unavailable or have broken down.
Some reasons you may turn to self-harm include:
- To gain control when your life feels chaotic or uncertain
- To express emotional pain that is difficult to articulate
- To escape numbness or emotional disconnection
- To punish yourself due to acute feelings of guilt, shame or low self-worth
- To create a ritual or sense of normalcy during unstable times
Self-harm can create a temporary sense of relief, followed by intense shame or regret. Over time, this cycle can become compulsive – much like addiction.
Risk Factors for Self-Harm
There is no single cause of self-injury. A combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors may increase your vulnerability, including:
- Having friends or family members who self-harm
- Trauma, abuse or neglect
- Family conflict or instability
- Struggles with your sexual or gender identity
- Social isolation or loneliness
- Alexithymia, or emotional blindness
- Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or personality disorders
- Substance abuse
The Link Between Self-Harm and Other Compulsive Behaviors
Self-harm often coexists with other self-destructive behaviors – an intersection that highlights the importance of treating the underlying pain.
- Substance use: Much like self-injury, drugs and alcohol will briefly numb your emotions. Women who self-harm may abuse substances to intensify the feeling of release or hide from the resulting guilt. Self-injuring under the influence of drugs or alcohol can heighten your risk of hurting yourself more severely than you intended, as these substances impair inhibitions, delay reaction times and dull nerve sensitivity.
- Eating disorders: Disordered eating behaviors such as binging, purging and food restriction can also serve as a form of self-punishment or control. Like self-harm, eating disorders often begin as coping mechanisms but can evolve into compulsive patterns.
Warning Signs of Self-Harm
Because self-injury happens in secret, you should know how to recognize the emotional and behavioral red flags. Warning signs may include:
- Wearing long sleeves or pants even in hot weather
- Unexplained scars, bruises or burns
- Bloodstains on clothing or other belongings
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Mood swings, irritability or depression
- Keeping sharp objects or other tools in unusual places
- Frequent statements of self-hatred or worthlessness
A Compassionate Approach to Healing
Self-harm is not attention-seeking or a sign of weakness – it signifies profound emotional distress that deserves attention and care. Recovery begins with compassion, honesty and a safe space to explore your painful emotions without judgment.
Rising Roads Recovery provides trauma-informed care to help you confront and heal the root causes of self-destructive behaviors. No matter how long you’ve struggled with self-harm, healing is possible. Break your silence and contact us today.
