There are many different definitions for self-mutilations, also known as self-injury, self-harm, or self-inflicted violence. One definition of self-mutilation is that is any self-directed, repetitive behavior that causes physical injury. Another definition is that self-mutilation is self-inflicted physical harm severe enough to cause tissue damage done without suicidal intent. This is just one example of the blurriness of the boundaries of self-mutilation. It is very hard to pin point exactly who or why people self-mutilate, however there are known risk factors. The known risk factors are: the female gender, of adolescence and college age, involved in substance abuse, having a personality disorder, and having a history of self-mutilation.
This does not limit the occurrence of self-mutilation within other genders or other ages. For example it is not very common that elderly people will self-injure, but there are clinical reports of it occurring in this age group before. The occurrence of self-injury can not be defined to one particular group of people. People who self-mutilate can be survivors of abuse, people who have eating disorders, or people who suffer from substance abuse. It can also occur in homes where there is violence with an inhibition of verbally expressing their emotions, or in a home that loses a parent do to death or divorce. However you can not limit this illness to people who are more susceptible, it also occurs in teachers, medical professionals, lawyers, engineers, and high-achieving high-school students.
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Domestic abuse is a critical social and public health problem in the United States, affecting millions of individuals annually. This paper provides a broad overview of issues of domestic abuse in the United States by examining the research literature of heterosexual partner abuse (both male and female), elder abuse, and the intervention efforts by the American health care system in fighting this ...
People most commonly use self-injury as a coping mechanism; to relieve the tension or distress. People say that self-mutilating lets them “forget” about any feelings that they want to free themselves from. If the person uses the cutting self-mutilation they may feel that seeing the blood gives them a sense of well-being and strength. This would give them a feeling of empowerment, and they feel in control by enduring the pain that they inflict on themselves. Along with the feeling of releasing their tension and frustration there are other factors that can lead to self-injury. One of these factors is the lack or a role model, or the feeling of invalidation.
Most people who self injure were chronically invalidated as a child, which led them to having a feeling of worthlessness. In some cases they never learned appropriate ways of expressing their emotions, or learned that emotions were bad and should be avoided. Another factor is the biological predisposition. There is evidence that indicates that self-injurers have specific problems within the brain’s system that cause an increase in impulsivity and aggression. There are four types of self mutilation. The first one, which would be the worst type, is severe self-mutilation.
This self-mutilation manifests as extensive body damage. This damage is often irreversible and is not normally repeated. An example of this would be the gouging of the eyes, or amputation. These acts are normally carried out in an intense psychotic state, or intoxicated by illegal substances.
The second type of self-mutilation most often occurs in people who are mentally retarded. This type is called stereotyped self-mutilation, because it has a stereotyped and repetitive rhythm. An example of this would be the banging of ones head. The third type of self-mutilation is most commonly seen in the general psychiatric practice.
This type is called superficial self-mutilation; it is simply defined as moderate self-mutilation. Some examples of this type of self-mutilation are cutting of the skin, burning, and picking at the skin. These behaviors are most often repetitive. These tendencies are carried out by non psychotic and non mentally retarded patients. The last type of self-mutilation is socially accepted self-mutilation. This type would include ear piercings, tattoos, or culturally based behaviors.
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For decades, psychologists have devised many treatment regimes for schizophrenia patients, with varying degrees of success and effectiveness. There have been great obstacles in their efforts, mainly due to the fact that patients of schizophrenia lack insight into their impaired conditions. Often patients refuse treatment of any kind because they do not perceive any mental illness associated with ...
Medications, individual therapy, and social therapy have been focused on the help treat self-mutilation. The first type of drug is the antidepressant. These drugs have been shown to modestly reduce anger and negative affective states, but the studies do not refer specifically to their effect on the frequency of self-mutilation. These drugs are considered the most appropriate first-line treatment for self-injury because they are safe and they are effective in treating the mood and reactivity. Another type of drug is the atypical antipsychotics which are often used in patients with borderline personality disorders or mental retardation to reduce impulsive physical aggression and mood lability. These drugs are also used to help control overall behavior.
Mood stabilizers are also given to self-injurers to help reduce the frequency of self-mutilation. Anxiolytics help control agitation and attempts to self-mutilate. Opiate antagonists are other drugs that are prescribed in other impulse control disorders and help to control the impulse of people who self-mutilate. There are also psychotherapeutic approaches, such as psycho dynamic psychotherapy. This is the most common form of individual therapy.
This therapy teaches self-mutilators more healthy ways to deal with negative things. Another psychotherapeutic approach would be dialectical behavior therapy; this therapy combines cognitive, behavioral, and supportive interventions. Self-mutilation is an unfortunate issue that people have to deal with, but with support from their families and friends, it can be resolved. One important thing to remember is that self-mutilation is not a failed suicide attempt. Also, people who self-injure are not bad people; they are just people that have to deal with some overwhelming issues that they don’t know how to deal with otherwise.
Sources: Fong, Timothy. “Self-mutilation: Impulsive traits suggest new drug therapies.” Self-mutilation. Feb. 2003. Dec. 15, 2004.
Martinson, Deb. “Self Injury Fact Sheet.” Self Injury Fact Sheet. 1999. Dec. 15, 2004.” Self-mutilation: the truth behind the shame.” Over view of self-injury, self-mutilation. 2000.
Dec. 15, 2004.
