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Why do People Self-Injure


by Kevin Caruso

People engage in self-injury for many reasons.

But the people who self-injure usually trying are unable to cope with and successfully express their feelings.

Also, many people who self-injure have a mental disorder, such as depression bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

And some of the people who self-injure have been physically or sexually abused at some point in their lives and they are still trying to work through the difficult emotions of that abuse.

Another underlying cause that applies to almost everyone who self-injures is low self-esteem.

After people begin to self-injure, they often continue the behavior in order to gain “relief” from their problems and feelings -- many people who self-injure say that it makes them feel better. And although that may not seem logical, there is a physiological explanation for these feelings.

Self-injure may cause the release of endorphins, which is a hormone that is also released with intense exercise. Endorphins reduce pain and positively affect emotions.

But this “fix” is short-lived, because there is MUCH more harm than good done to the body, and to the mind, when people self-injure.

And after the endorphins wear off (they do not last that long), people are usually left in a deeper depressed state than before, with lower self-esteem, and new physical injuries.

The CYCLE of self-injury can then continue, as people can then repeat their self-injury behaviors more and more in order to escape, while their physical and mental health go into a free fall.

So how is the cycle broken?

Treatment.

Period.

People who self-injure MUST be receive treatment AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.


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.)



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