Self Injury Paper

1. What is the disorder?

Self-Injury Disorder

2. Define/explain the disorder.

Self-injury is also known as self-harm, self-mutilation or cutting. This is any intentional injury to one’s body. The most common for is cutting. Other forms include: burning, excessive piercing or tattooing, picking at skin or re-opening wounds, hair pulling, head banging, hitting, or bone breaking. People who self-harm usually are experiencing depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and many more disorders. Self-harm is also seen in high functioning individuals who have no clinical diagnosis. This act is used a coping mechanism to provide temporary relief of feelings. Self-harm is also associated with history of trauma and abuse including emotional and sexual abuse.

3. At what age does the disorder start?

The disorder has no age target although it can start as early as age seven. It occurs most often among adolescent females, people who have a history of physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

4. Does the disorder effect males or females more or is it equal?

It is assumed that females are more likely to self-injure than men and there is studies that support this assumption. There as well are studies that show men are equally likely to self-injure. Men tend to self-injure for shorter periods of time. The probability of men and woman to self-harm are equal due to there is many studies that support that both genders tend to self-harm as a form of relief.

5. What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of self-injury are: frequent cuts and burns that can’t be explained, self-punching or scratching, needle sticking, head banging, eye pressing, finger or arm biting, pulling out one’s hair, and picking at one’s skin.

Warning signs: Signs that individuals may be engaging in self-injury include: wearing pants and long sleeves in warm weather, the appearance of lighters, razors, or sharp objects that one would not expect a person to be carrying,...