Causes and risk factors
Self injury is serious mental disorder. It is most likely in adolescent females, those with history of physical or sexual abuse. People suffering from other mental disorders like depression, despair, schizophrenia substance abuse, OCD etc. Some socio economic factors like poverty, unemployment, also cause thoughts of suicide. Predisposing factors for suicide include alcohol, smoking, drug abuse, addictions, environmental factors, relationship blues etc. Suppression of anger can since childhood can lead to self injury. It can be form of rebelling in children. Feelings behind the person who self injures are – one cant injure other as it becomes a crime, hence injure himself to gain sympathy , feeling relieved from stress, anxiety and anger; means to manage pain; finding a way out from emotional numbness; emotional blackmailing; kind of attention seeking behaviour. It can be a way of expressing self hatred. Children who were not allowed to express their feelings in childhood predispose to self harm.
Clinical presentation
Self injury is expressed as – cutting, burning, excessive tattooing or piercing, hair picking, hair pulling, head banging, hitting, bone breaking, picking lips or skin, reopening wounds. Self punching, self slapping, needle sticking, eye pressing, finger or nail biting, they usually try to hide their behaviour. It normally leaves marks on skin or cause tissue and skin damage. The signs that confirm self injury are – wearing full length clothes in hot weather, low self esteem, carrying sharp objects such as knives etc frequently, poor relationships, lack of attention at school or workplace.
Investigation
Medical history by the patient and psychological evaluation by the psychiatrist or psychotherapist helps in diagnosis. the signs of self injury can be visible which will confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Main treatment consists of Psychotherapy and counselling which involves cognitive behavioural therapy that teaches anger management techniques, relaxation techniques to combat the problem. Methods to cope up with life situations are taught. Individual and family therapy, social involvement, spending quality time with family members will also help in managing the patient with self injury. Drugs are used to treat other mental illnesses that may be present. Deaddiction or detoxification in case of drug abuse is needed.
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating self injury. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating self injury.
