March is Self-Harm Awareness Month

Self-harm is a form of communication that ignites anxiety in others. It is important to remember that self-harm is not the same as suicide ideation/thinking. Many individuals who engage in self-harm do not have the desire to end their lives. On the contrary, they want to feel “alive” and connected to their body/self.

We have a profound mind/body connection that is essential in our wellness. For instance, consider how we lose feeling in our arms/legs when they fall asleep. Our instinct might be to stomp our feet to reset our nervous system and bring back our equilibrium of sensation. The individual reason for self-injury runs the gamut. They feel numb, perhaps emotionally, and they want to bring alive sensations just like stomping your feet to feel better. The physical act can communicate the emotional pain they are enduring as it is an external statement of the suffering happening internally. It can be seen as a form of self-punishment for those suffering from poor self-worth. The process of healing of the wound can be symbolic of reparenting or tending to emotional/physical wounds to self-care/regulate our system. The repetitive process of injury and then healed state may be an attempt to heal part of self or a trauma they experienced, and the medical model of treatment feels more concrete/visual of the process of healing.

As difficult as it can be, less reaction is recommended and a focus on wellness/safety plan/harm reduction strategies is recommended. Collaboration with medical professionals may be recommended in cases in which wound care is necessary beyond home remedies. The focus should be about care for the physical wound to prevent infections and then redirecting the discussion onto healthier coping skills that may provide alleviation of the symptoms they are experiencing. A reset of the nervous system may be required through yoga, mindfulness/meditation or other sensory feedback. Engaging in physical strategies can help those who have a difficult time communicating verbally—in fact when we experience acute stress/trauma, the part of the brain in charge of language expression is the part that goes offline.

What can you do?

Develop a plan in which coping skills/alternatives are listed, identifying your natural support system and protocols around treating the injury established.

Sensory feedback for distraction and self-regulating:

• Sour or hot hard piece of candy
• Ice, ice pack: cold water triggers an immediate decrease in heart rate, and it is useful in bringing your attention to sensory input that brings back online our parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system. An Ice pack on your face can also reduce symptoms like the nauseous feeling people may feel when emotionally unwell.
• Expressive arts: pottery, clay, modeling, scalping activities can be a healthier way of expressing wounds/emotions and communicate their level of distress while the activity itself can lower our defense mechanisms and bring out creative problem-solving skills.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) counseling is the evidenced based model of treatment recommended for persistent self-harm behaviors.
• 988 is the national mental health hotline for additional resources

The Lynnfield Public Library Book Suggestion for Our Self Harm Awareness Month: “How not to fall apart: lessons learned on the road from self-harm to self-care” by Maggy van Eijk