Self-Harm
Hurting oneself to cope with emotional distress
Quick Facts
- Type: Mental and emotional health concern
- Common in: Adolescents and young adults
- Often linked to: Depression, anxiety, trauma
- Help is available: Support and treatment work
Overview
Self-harm means deliberately injuring your own body as a way to deal with painful or overwhelming emotions. It can take many forms, and people who self-harm are usually trying to cope with deep emotional distress rather than trying to end their life. Even so, self-harm is a serious sign that someone is struggling and needs support.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or thinking about suicide, call your local emergency number right away. In the United States you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day. Help is available, and recovery is possible. This page is for general education and is not a substitute for professional care.
Signs and Symptoms
Self-harm is often hidden, but there can be warning signs:
- Unexplained cuts, burns, bruises, or scars, often on the arms, legs, or abdomen
- Wearing long sleeves or pants even in warm weather to cover injuries
- Keeping sharp objects close at hand
- Frequent reports of accidental injury
- Withdrawing from friends and activities, or sudden mood changes
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or being overwhelmed
People who self-harm may describe a sense of relief or release afterward, often followed by guilt or shame. These feelings can make the behavior hard to stop without support.
Causes
Self-harm is usually a way of coping with emotions that feel too intense to manage. Different people use it for different reasons, such as:
- Releasing or distracting from emotional pain
- Turning numbness or emptiness into a physical sensation
- Expressing feelings that are hard to put into words
- Regaining a sense of control
- Punishing oneself out of guilt or low self-worth
It is often connected to underlying conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or a history of trauma, abuse, or loss. Self-harm is not simply attention-seeking; it usually reflects real and serious distress.
Risk Factors
- Adolescence and young adulthood, when self-harm most often begins
- Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or other mental health conditions
- A history of trauma, abuse, neglect, or bullying
- Difficulty managing or expressing strong emotions
- Social isolation or relationship difficulties
- Alcohol or drug use, which can lower inhibitions
- Knowing others who self-harm
Diagnosis and Evaluation
There is no single test for self-harm. A doctor or mental health professional will talk with the person in a supportive, non-judgmental way to understand what is happening and why. Evaluation usually includes:
- A caring conversation about feelings, stress, and the self-harming behavior
- Treatment of any wounds or injuries
- Screening for depression, anxiety, trauma, and thoughts of suicide
- Asking about safety and support at home, school, or work
The goal is to understand the whole person, not to judge, so the right support and treatment can be offered.
Treatment and Support
Self-harm can be treated, and many people stop with the right help. Treatment focuses on the underlying distress and on building healthier ways to cope.
- Talking therapies: Approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy help people understand triggers, manage strong emotions, and develop safer coping skills.
- Treating underlying conditions: Addressing depression, anxiety, or trauma, sometimes with medication, can reduce the urge to self-harm.
- Safety planning: Working with a professional to identify triggers, coping strategies, and people to contact when the urge is strong.
- Support from others: Trusted friends, family, school counselors, and support groups can all help recovery.
Recovery often takes time and patience, and setbacks do not mean failure.
Self-Care and Helping Others
If you are struggling, reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. Things that can help include:
- Telling someone you trust how you feel
- Finding alternative coping strategies, such as exercise, art, writing, or talking to a helpline
- Removing or limiting access to objects you use to harm yourself
- Building a list of supportive people and crisis numbers to keep close
If someone confides in you, listen calmly and without judgment, take them seriously, and encourage them to seek professional help. If they are in immediate danger, contact emergency services or a crisis line right away.
When to Get Help
Call emergency services immediately if there is a serious injury, heavy bleeding, or any risk to life, or if someone is thinking about suicide. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any time.
Reach out to a doctor or mental health professional if you or someone you know:
- Is harming themselves or feels a strong urge to
- Feels hopeless, overwhelmed, or unable to cope
- Has thoughts of suicide
You do not have to face this alone, and effective help is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is self-harm the same as attempting suicide?
They are different but related. Self-harm is usually a way to cope with emotional pain rather than to end life. However, self-harm is a serious sign of distress and can raise suicide risk, so anyone who self-harms deserves support, and any thoughts of suicide need urgent help.
Why do people self-harm?
People self-harm for many reasons, including to release overwhelming emotions, feel something when numb, express pain that is hard to put into words, or regain a sense of control. It is often connected to depression, anxiety, or past trauma, and is not simply attention-seeking.
How can I help someone who is self-harming?
Listen calmly without judgment, take them seriously, and let them know you care. Encourage them to talk to a doctor, counselor, or crisis line. If they are in immediate danger or thinking about suicide, contact emergency services or a crisis line right away.
Can self-harm be treated?
Yes. Talking therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy help people manage emotions and find safer coping strategies. Treating underlying depression, anxiety, or trauma also helps. Many people stop self-harming with the right support.
Where can I get help right now?
If there is any risk to life, call your local emergency number. In the United States you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day. A trusted person, doctor, or counselor can also help you take the next step.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
- Mayo Clinic. Self-injury/cutting — Symptoms and causes.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Self-harm.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.