Self-injury

Self-injury is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting yourself or hitting yourself. Self-injury often occurs in response to emotional pain, such as anger, guilt, loneliness, or frustration. It can serve as a way to release tension or as a means of punishing oneself. There are also other reasons why someone might engage in self-injury, such as using it as a distraction from painful emotions or using it as a way to feel something when normally feeling numb or empty. For many, self-injury makes the internal suffering tangible and real. Regardless of why an individual engages in self-injury, it is always a sign of a bigger issue that needs to be addressed. At Lotus Therapy Group, we explore the bigger issues behind the self-injury and work with clients to develop better coping skills and better ways to manage their emotions.

If you are a parent, your child or teen might exhibit some of the following symptoms:

—Scars, often in patterns
—Frequent reports of accidental injury
—Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises, or burns that cannot be explained
—Wearing long sleeves or pants, even in hot weather
—Keeping sharp objects in their rooms
—Punching or head-banging
—Behavioral or emotional instability