Self-injury

Self-injury (self-mutilation, autoagression) is a deliberate damage to one’s own body. It doesn’t have to be suicidal. Self-injuries may occur in the course of mood disorders (CHAD, depression), addictions and personality disorders (especially borderline). They are more common in young people aged 12-24.

People who injure themselves usually do it in situations of severe distress. As emotional tension decreases after self-injury, such strategy is then repeated, becoming an habit. It becomes a learned strategy for regulating difficult emotions such as sadness, anger, emptiness. It does not bring, though, any long-term positive effects.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an effective method of reducing self-injury behaviours. Therapy helps patients acquire new, adaptive strategies of coping with difficult emotions. They learn to tolerate mental discomfort and build long-term resilience. Skill training is one of the most effective treatment methods and includes mindfulness training, mental discomfort training, interpersonal effectiveness training and addiction management training.