Giving Voice to Pain That Has No Words

In the past thirteen years, I have worked with more individuals who self-injure than I can count. What was once thought of as a teenage phenomenon is now recognized as a struggle faced by woman of all ages. It may surprise you to know that the incidence of habitual bodily harm is approximately 1 percent in our country. With a reported 2 million cases in the United States alone, it is clear that this disorder has become rampant and affects a diverse population.

Perhaps you are reading this story because you self-injure or maybe you know someone who does. Since self-injury is becoming as widespread as substance abuse and eating disorders, it is not uncommon for most people to know someone who struggles with this problem. Although this difficulty is usually concealed rather than flaunted, it has received enough attention through the media to allow the topic to be “less taboo” and therefore more discussed. Perhaps these barriers were first broken down years ago when Hollywood stars such as Roseanne Barr and Johnny Depp as well as royal favorite, Princess Diana, admitted to the behavior. Fortunately, awareness of this problem has led to an increase in treatment intervention.

There are many reasons why people self-injure. If you are uncertain as to why you might be struggling with this problem, think about the following. The most common reasons people self injure are (1) to cope with emotional distress, (2) to fill a void of emptiness, and (3) to seek attention. Often self-injury is a symptom of a more serious mental illness such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Major Depression, or Bipolar Disorder. If this is the case, treating the underlining illness is highly recommended as it will lead to improved psychological well-being and aid in the recovery process for self-injury.

The first step in recovery is acknowledging that there is a problem. This is not always easy to do. Although self-injury is much more understood today than it was in the past, it still comes with several myths and stereotypes. Unfortunately, admitting to the problem means risking these misconceptions. For example, the fear of being labeled as “suicidal” commonly prevents identification of the problem. Individuals who self-harm do this as a way to cope with distressing emotions and not with the intent to commit suicide. In fact, many view self-injury as a way to self-nurture and prevent suicide.

In addition, the fear of being referred to as a “cutter,” which then follows with labels such as “psycho,” “borderline,” “Goth,” or “emo,” commonly prevents identification of the problem.