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It\u2019s 2023, and although we are making strides toward destigmatizing mental health challenges, the topic of self-harm can still be taboo for some. Self-harm is often a secretive form of coping with intense emotions such as saddness, anger, frustration, loneliness and more. The goal of this blog is to bring awareness and normalize self-harm as well as provide immediate strategies to help yourself if you currently are struggling with it.<\/p>\n
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) describes self-harm as the act of hurting yourself intentionally. Self-harming behaviors are a coping mechanism many teenagers, young people, and adults develop to manage intense emotions. Many people who self-harm learned to repress their emotions and self-harming acts as a way to release them. Although self-harm creates a short-lived sense of calm, w\u00a0 it also comes shame and guilt, which can lead to more self-harm, creating a vicious cycle. Examples of ways people may self-harm are cutting, burning, picking wounds or scabs, head banging and pulling out hair.<\/p>\n
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is commonly used in psychotherapy to support in managing intense emotions and minimizing self-harm. The goal of DBT is to provide positive<\/em> coping mechanisms for when intense emotions surface and create healthy emotional regulation. Although DBT is most effective when conducted with a trained professional, there are a few skills you can apply immediately to help bring down intense emotions that lead to self-harm.<\/p>\n If you find yourself in a situation where you are feeling the urge to self-harm and are unable to seek professional help at this time, trying one of these options might help:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although the techniques above can provide new ways of coping with intense feelings that lead to self-harm, talking with a therapist allows space to address the underlying issues and paves the way toward healing. Many therapists at Better Life Therpay are trained in DBT and ready to help.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Linehan, M. M.(2015) DBT skills training manual (2nd ed.). New York, NY, US: Guilford Press.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.crisistextline.org\/topics\/self-harm\/#what-is-self-harm-1<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nami.org\/About-Mental-Illness\/Common-with-Mental-Illness\/Self-harm<\/a><\/p>\nSupport Yourself Now<\/h2>\n
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How Therapy Can Help<\/h2>\n
References<\/h5>\n