In recent years, self-injuring behavior (SI)  has become more prevalent on college campuses and in society in general.  Self-injuring behavior can be defined as the deliberate attempt to cause harm to one’s own body and the injury is usually severe enough to cause tissue damage.  The most common form of SI is cutting, but it can also include burning, picking, gouging, biting, hair-pulling, hitting,  and interference with wound healing.  Sometimes SI involves more severe forms of self-mutilation such as bone breaking or amputation, but this is rare.  Generally, SI is not the same as a suicide attempt because there is no intention to die. 

While each person with SI is unique and needs to be considered individually, some generalizations can be made that apply to most people.  People with SI often have great difficulty identifying and expressing their emotions verbally.   So, for example, many people who cut themselves describe it as an attempt to release all the pent-up emotions they have not been able to release.  Often there is a feeling of emotional numbness that ends when a cut or burn bleeds.  One person described the release after SI as “the way my body cried”.  Self-harming behavior can also be a way of inflicting self-punishment.  The cutter has not learned healthy ways of coping,  healthy ways of saying “no” and of expressing anger, and healthy ways of feeling self-acceptance.  As the person discovers better ways of coping, they will often find it easier to stop self-injuring.

Here are some things to try in order to deal with self-injuring behavior, although these strategies are best when used in conjunction with psychotherapy or counseling:

To read the stories of others who have struggled with SI, you might want to try the Self-Harm website at www.selfharm.com.

If you are struggling with SI, a consultation with a therapist is strongly advised. The Counseling Center has a large interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals who are available to help you.