15 Common Misconceptions About Self-Injury Debunked

15 Common Misconceptions About Self-Injury Debunked

Self-injury IS NOT the same as a suicide attempt and while those who engage in it might be at higher risk for suicide, it does NOT mean that they are trying to end their own life!

Self-injury affects a wide variety of people across all genders, races, socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual orientations.

Once again, self-injury is not the same as a suicide attempt and DOES NOT indicate that a person is suicidal or even tried to take their own life.

The signs of self-injury are not always as obvious and those suffering from it may go to great lengths to hide any evidence.

While cutting is one common form of self-injury, others include burning ones skin, self-hitting and pulling out one's hair.

Self-injury is not a trademark of any particular sub-culture and can affect people of all walks of life. In fact, even celebrities like Demi Lovato have engaged in self-harm.

Self-harm is not always a "cry for help". Often times, people who self-harm are ashamed of their behavior and do not want any attention.

Self-injury is not the same as masochism, the tendency to derive pleasure or even sexual gratification, from one's own pain or humiliation.

While some people who self-injure do have mental disorders such as depression or borderline personality disorder, this is not true for everyone who engages in this behavior.

The level of severity of a person's wounds have NOTHING to do with their level of distress.

Recovering from self-injury often requires therapy and can sometimes take year. Many people suffer from the desire to self-harm long after they have stopped the behavior altogether and it can affect them for the rest of their lives.

People who self-harm use it as a coping mechanism and their behavior often has very little to do with trying to control the actions of others around them.

While some people who self-harm may have been abused, it is incorrect to assume that this is true of everyone.

Self-injury is a coping mechanism and while it may provide temporary relief, it is usually not an enjoyable experience for anyone who engages in it or suffers from this behavior.

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