Self harm
What is Self harm?
When someone “self-harms”, they intentionally injure or harm themselves. They might do this by ‘overdosing’ - taking too many pills, drugs or alcohol. Or they might hit, cut or burn themselves, pull their hair or pick their skin. Eating problems like anorexia (not wanting to eat at all) or bulimia (eating a lot and making yourself sick afterwards) can be a kind of self-harm. People often self-harm in secret.
People self-harm for many different reasons. Some of them are:
- It is a way of taking your mind off very painful feelings that build up inside.
- It can make you feel more in control when life feels out of control.
- It can be way of showing someone that you are hurting if you feel that no one is listening.
It can be a way of punishing yourself if you feel guilty for some reason
