Self-harm refers to deliberate, intentional and socially unacceptable injury to one's own body. This injury may be aimed at relieving otherwise unbearable emotions, sensations of unreality & numbness, or for other reasons. Self-harm is often (but not always) associated with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, anorexia; with a history of trauma and abuse; and with mental traits such as perfectionism.
Self-harm should not be confused with suicide attempts. People who self-harm are not usually attempting suicide, but are trying to relieve the unbearable emotional pressure they are feeling. However, Self-injury is a strong predictor for future suicide or suicide attempts. A self-injurer is significantly more likely to attempt or complete suicide in the year after an incident of self-injury. Self-harm is very rarely attention-seeking behaviour. Many self-injurers are ashamed, embarrassed, and attempt to conceal their behaviour from others.
A common form of self-harm is shallow cuts to the skin of the arms or legs. Strictly, self-harm is a general term for self-damaging activities (which could include alcohol abuse, bulimia etc.); self-injury refers to the more specific practice of cutting, bruising, burning or otherwise directly injuring the body.
One theory states that self-injury or parasuicide is a way to "go away" or disassociate, separating the mind from the feelings that caused the anguish. This is done by tricking the mind into believing the pain felt at the time is caused by self-injury instead of the issues they were facing before. The physical pain may also act as a distraction from emotional pain in a similar way to a hot water bottle reducing the pain of a stomach ache.
A paper called 'Does Rejection Hurt? An fMRI Study of Social Exclusion' published in Science, issue of 10 Oct 2003, states that the pain felt because of social exclusion activates the same parts of the brain as those associated with registering physical pain. This could explain in some cases why the brain is so easily tricked into believing the pain is caused by self-injury.
Alternatively self-injury may be a means of feeling something, even if the sensation is unpleasant. Those who self-injure sometimes describe feelings of emptiness or numbness, and physical pain may be a relief from these feelings. Self-harm may also give a feeling of being in control of one's own body, which could be especially important for victims of sexual abuse.
Self-injury may also be a means of communicating distress. This motivation is sometimes dismissed as "attention seeking" and has often been seen as the primary motivation. However, for many, the act of self-harm fulfils a purpose in itself and is not a means of communicating with or influencing others. Many who self-injure keep their injuries secret, while those who do disclose their injuries may be embarrassed and ashamed of their actions.
Those who engage in self-harm face the contradicting reality of harming themselves while at the same time feeling a relief from this act. This feeling of relief comes from the beta endorphins released in the brain. These act to reduce tension and emotional distress and may lead to a feeling of calm. A dangerous situation exists when the person becomes addicted to the high provided by the endorphins.Psychology
