https://shrinkbox.org/2023/10/...
Self-harm behavior, or non-suicidal self-injury, is a complex and often misunderstood behavior referred to as deliberate injury to one’s body without an intent to die. According to the American Society of Child and adolescent psychiatry, it is a deliberate act at times to change a way of feeling or a way to relieve build-up pressure from distressing thoughts and feelings. It is a severe event that affects millions of adolescents today as they struggle to deal with the everyday stress in school, at home, and in their relationships. Some are forced to grow up and hurried through adolescent years by their parents and peers in the sense that they become victims of the toxic media-driven world we live in today. Adolescents are constantly being flooded with pieces of information and images in the media about how they should look, speak, and act. Failure to measure up may lead to depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Some may resort to self-harming behavior to deal with the emotional pain that comes with it.
Why do Adolescents Engage in non-suicidal self-harm Behaviors?
Though it is difficult to understand why adolescents indulge in self-harm behavior, just like substance use, it has no single cause and affects all social and cultural levels. Some of the reasons reported by researchers Stallard et al. include feeling emotionally disconnected from their parents. Most parents are busy with their own issues and become emotionally unavailable to their adolescent children. Some may be in denial about their teenage children’s emotional distress, while some may start comparing their upbringing with their children. Thereby shutting them from expressing their emotional struggles.
Another problem is that some adolescents are not mature enough to cope effectively with emotional pain or ask for help. Hence, they resort to self-harming behavior as a temporary solution to a failure to communicate or to meet critical needs. Peer pressure can also influence adolescents to injure themselves. Some adolescents desire to “fit in” within a group, while some feel invisible or emotionally dead to their peers. So, they resort to self-harm to feel alive and confirm their existence. Some of the possible correlations identified by researchers concerning the etiology of non-suicidal self-harm behavior include childhood traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse and maltreatment, poor parental attachment, emotional neglect, bullying in school, substance use, and having friends with self-harming behavior (Cipriano et al. 2017)
Parents, teachers, and clinicians should be vigilant for the signs and symptoms of self-harm behavior. Some things to look for include the need to be alone, regularly locking oneself in the bathroom after a bad day at school, family conflicts, hostile peer encounters, and always wearing long sleeves even when the weather is not conducive. Unexplained or suspicious cuts, burns, and bruises on arms, legs, and abdomen might also be seen. Finding sharp objects such as knives and razor blades hidden in their room is another clue to look out for.
Some may appear to have frequent accidents or be clumsy and use these incidents to explain self-inflicted injuries. Those who experience depression and anxiety may have difficulty with problem-solving, and those who keep their emotions within may have an increased risk of turning to self-harm as a coping mechanism (Cipriano et al., 2017).
What can be done about Adolescent Non-suicidal self-injury?
Non-suicidal self-injury is common but poorly understood; discussing the issue alone can be frightening for parents, and they may feel out of place or even disgusted when they suspect or discover that their child is indulging in self-harming behavior. Adolescents indulging in self-harming behavior may not know how to ask for help directly or compellingly. Therefore, accurate information is the first step for parents, teachers, and clinicians, who may be the first line of defense when adolescents engage in non-suicidal self-injury. Adolescents can avoid harming themselves by learning to accept reality and finding ways to make the present moment more tolerable. Identifying feelings and talking them out rather than acting on them, developing better social skills, and finally, practicing positive stress management are other ways of avoiding self-harming behavior. Psychotherapy is the mainstay treatment; adolescents who engage in self-harm injury need a thorough evaluation by a mental health professional who may assist in identifying and treating the underlying causes.
How can Adolescent self-harm behavior be prevented?
Prevention of adolescent self-harm behaviors starts with the parents, first by making their family mood calm and welcoming for their teens to express their emotions without judgment. Adolescents need to feel appreciated and know their parents will be there for them unconditionally. Parents also need to create time and boundaries between their work and family and foster meaningful connections with their teens by sharing their struggles and words of wisdom their parents shared with them.
Self-harming behavior can be dangerous; it is unfortunate that even at this age and time when mental health awareness is more prevalent than ever, something critical as self-harming is still met with silence and shame. Should a parent suspect or discover that their child is engaging in risky behavior such as non-suicidal self-harming behavior, seeking help from a qualified mental health clinician is vital. Early intervention is crucial in managing self-harming behavior. Treatment can be effective at reducing behavior and addressing painful emotions. With patience, empathy, and professional help, adolescents who engage in self-harm can find a path to healing and recovery.