self-harm
Intentional bodily injury
Self-harm is the deliberate injury of one's own body, typically as a way of coping with emotional distress rather than as a suicide attempt.
Common forms include cutting, burning, or hitting oneself.
The behavior often reflects difficulty processing overwhelming feelings: She started self-harming after her parents' divorce.
Also called self-injury.
Dividing via sharp edge
- burningCombustion in progress
- scratchingRaking with nails
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- pickingAct of selecting
gouging · biting · hitting · hair-pulling · bruising · pinching · overdose · poisoning
Lasting psychological wound
- borderlineEdge of acceptability
- depressionProlonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
suicidality · non-suicidal · psychiatric · PTSD · attachment · abandonment · invalidation
Intense mental suffering
- despairTotal absence of hope
- hopelessnessState without hope
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
agony · shame · guilt · isolation · loneliness · worthlessness · emptiness · numbness
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- DBTTherapy for emotional regulation
- CBTPsychological treatment abbreviation
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
treatment · support · hospitalization · outpatient · relapse · sobriety · healing · hope
Bodily tissue damage
- scarsHealed wound tissue
- lacerationsIrregular torn wounds
- abrasionsSuperficial skin damage
- bleedingBlood loss from injury
scarring · razor · blade · knife · bandages · marks · bruises · burns
Harmful to one's wellbeing
- numbingCausing loss of sensation
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- reliefEasing of distress
- controlAuthority to direct
escape · release · compulsion · ritual · addiction · regulation · distraction · grounding
Incorrectly comprehended
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
awareness · prevention · education · intervention · help-seeking · validation · compassion
cutting
Dividing via sharp edge
- burningCombustion in progress
- scratchingRaking with nails
- carvingShaping by cutting away
picking · gouging · biting · hitting · hair-pulling · bruising · pinching · overdose · poisoning · trichotillomania
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- borderlineEdge of acceptability
- depressionProlonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
dissociation · suicidality · non-suicidal · psychiatric · PTSD · attachment · abandonment · invalidation
anguish
Intense mental suffering
- despairTotal absence of hope
- hopelessnessState without hope
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
torment · agony · shame · guilt · isolation · loneliness · worthlessness · emptiness · numbness · overwhelm
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- DBTTherapy for emotional regulation
- CBTPsychological treatment abbreviation
intervention · treatment · support · hospitalization · outpatient · relapse · sobriety · healing · hope · resilience
wounds
Bodily tissue damage
- scarsHealed wound tissue
- lacerationsIrregular torn wounds
- abrasionsSuperficial skin damage
bleeding · scarring · razor · blade · knife · bandages · marks · bruises · burns · stitches
maladaptive
Harmful to one's wellbeing
control · escape · release · compulsion · ritual · addiction · regulation · distraction · grounding · overwhelm
misunderstood
Incorrectly comprehended
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- disclosureAct of revealing information
judgment · awareness · prevention · education · intervention · help-seeking · validation · compassion
teens
Ages thirteen through nineteen
- youthState of being immature
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- cyberbullyingDigital intimidation of others
contagion · school · identity · puberty · triggers · vulnerability · secrecy
- Child Psychiatrychild psychiatrist, child psychiatry, child psychologist, child psychology, child mental health
- prison mental healthmental health screening, psych evaluation, suicide prevention, suicide watch, mental illness
- self-harmcutting, burning, scratching, skin picking, hair pulling
- mental healthpsychiatry, psychotherapy, mental illness, psychiatrist, therapist
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- health educationhealth education, health curriculum, school health, health literacy, health videos
self-harmself-care
Maintaining personal wellbeing
self-love · self-healing · self-preservation · self-compassion · self-protection
harm, self, harmful, harmless, selfish, selfless, self-injury, self-abuse, self-mutilation