self-mutilation
Intentional bodily damage
Self-mutilation is the deliberate injury of one's own body—cutting, burning, or otherwise harming oneself.
The term typically refers to non-suicidal self-injury, often associated with psychological distress: The therapist noticed signs of self-mutilation on her arms.
In some contexts, it describes body modification practices like scarification or tongue-splitting.
Dividing via sharp edge
- burningCombustion in progress
- scratchingRaking with nails
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- pickingAct of selecting
biting · hitting · hair-pulling · wounding · laceration · abrasion · nail-biting · bruising
Prolonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- borderlineEdge of acceptability
- emotional dysregulationPoor control over feelings
trauma response · coping mechanism · maladaptive · compulsion · impulse · urge · trigger · release
Bodily or emotional distress
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
isolation · desperation · hopelessness · punishment · suffering · torment · numbness · emptiness
Healed wound tissue
- woundsBodily tissue damage
- cutsSevers or reduces
- burnsHeat-caused tissue damage
- bruisesDiscolored skin from impact
marks · tissue damage · infection · bleeding · healing · concealment · bandages · first aid
Intentional shallow skin cuts
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- body modificationAltering your physical appearance permanently
- tattooingInjecting pigment under skin
piercing · rites of passage · traditional · ceremonial · religious · flagellation · mortification · asceticism
Mental health medicine
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- psychotherapyTreatment through guided conversation
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
intervention · hospitalization · treatment · diagnosis · DSM · suicidality · risk factors · crisis
cutting
Dividing via sharp edge
- burningCombustion in progress
- scratchingRaking with nails
- carvingShaping by cutting away
picking · biting · hitting · hair-pulling · wounding · laceration · abrasion · nail-biting · bruising · punching
depression
Prolonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- borderlineEdge of acceptability
emotional dysregulation · trauma response · coping mechanism · maladaptive · compulsion · impulse · urge · trigger · release · numbness
pain
Bodily or emotional distress
secrecy · isolation · desperation · hopelessness · punishment · suffering · torment · numbness · emptiness · loneliness
scars
Healed wound tissue
bruises · marks · tissue damage · infection · bleeding · healing · concealment · bandages · first aid · nerve damage
scarification
Intentional shallow skin cuts
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- body modificationAltering your physical appearance permanently
tattooing · piercing · rites of passage · traditional · ceremonial · religious · flagellation · mortification · asceticism · penance
psychiatry
Mental health medicine
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- psychotherapyTreatment through guided conversation
assessment · intervention · hospitalization · treatment · diagnosis · DSM · suicidality · risk factors · crisis · safety plan
- Draft Evasiondraft dodging, conscientious objector, conscientious objection, deferment, desertion
- Horse Problemscribbing, weaving, bucking, rearing, biting
- self-harmcutting, burning, scratching, skin picking, hair pulling
- pet problemsaggression, barking, biting, chewing, digging
- Slave Resistanceslave rebellion, revolt, uprising, insurrection, runaways
- feather problemsfeather loss, bald patches, bald spots, barbering
self-mutilationself-care
Maintaining personal wellbeing
self-preservation · self-healing · self-protection · self-love · self-compassion
self-mutilationbody modification
Altering your physical appearance permanently
self, selfless, mutilate, lesion, selfhood, mutilation, self-harm, mutilations, mutilator