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People self-injure for a variety of reasons and sometimes the person does not actually know why they are doing it. However, it is commonly thought to provide a release for pent-up emotions and feelings. For some people it is their way of coping with a specific problem. It is understood that in most cases of those who self-harm it is because they have gone through a very difficult time as a child or young adult. Although this is not always the case, self-injury can often be linked to: - sexual, physical and emotional abuse,
- low self-esteem or self-hatred,
- fear of rejection,
- being neglected,
- being isolated or separated from someone they love,
- being bullied or harassed,
- feelings of guilt, anxiety, loneliness, grief or anger, and
- feelings of numbness or emptiness or of not feeling connected to the world.
Self-injury is a sign of emotional distress and is not an attempt to seek attention.
People who self-harm often describe feelings of numbness or deadness or they may feel detached from reality, as if they are not part of the world. Some may injure themselves to stay separated from reality but others do it to make themselves feel more real, connected and alive.
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