by Kevin Caruso
The symptoms of self-injury may not be easy to spot because those who self-injure oftentimes go to great lengths to hide their injuries.
Here are some of the symptoms:
- Wearing jackets, long-sleeve shirts, or any type of heavy clothing in warm weather (to hide cuts on the body)
- Constantly wearing wrist bands (to hide cuts on the wrist)
- Openly injuring themselves in subtle ways, i.e. pulling some hair out, picking one’s skin, softly hitting oneself, etc. (When people self-injure in front of others it is usually a subdued behavior – try to pick up on any subtleties that, along with other behaviors, may indicate self-injury)
- Low self-esteem. (Low self-esteem is ONE of the problems people who self-injure possess)
- Razor blades, razors, knives, sharp objects, lighters, and any other items that seem to be out of place or not normally used by the person in question.
- Blood on clothes, in the room of the person in question, in the bathroom, etc.
- Difficulty expressing feelings. (People who expresses frustration at an inability to express their emotions are at risk for self-injury)
- Poor performance at school or work (This is particularly true when performance DROPS to a poor level without good reason)
- Depression
- “Negative” talk such as:
- “I hate life”
- “No one likes me”
- “I’m no good at anything”
- “Life is meaningless”
- “I never feel happy.”
- “I feel empty.”
It can be more difficult than you might think to spot someone who self-injures.
If you find someone who self-injures, you MUST get help for that person.
If you are a student, you need to tell your parents and your teachers.
If you are not a student, you need to tell someone who can help that person. Then follow-up to make sure that the person is actually receiving help.
If you self-injure and need help, please immediately call 1-800-DONTCUT, and make appointments with a doctor and a therapist.
God bless you.
I love you.
Take care,
Kevin Caruso
Suicide.org
Founder, Executive Director, Editor-in-Chief
(Self Injury Help.com is a Suicide.org website.)