Myths about Self-Injury

Over the past several years both as a school counselor and as a therapist in private practice I have seen an increase in adolescents who deliberately cut, scratch, burn, or hurt themselves in some fashion. If you find yourself in a situation where you do not know what to do, are scared, frustrated and feel helpless you are not alone.

My intention in this post is to address some of the confusion that surrounds self-injury and explain about how it can be successfully treated.

Myths about Self-Injury

There are many myths that people believe regarding self-harm and they can really get in the way of treatment. Below are some common myths that I have come across in working with adolescents and their families:

• Attention Seeking: Many parents believe that their teen is hurting themselves because they want attention. According to researchers the percentage of adolescents deliberately hurting themselves for attention is quite low. It is most common that the adolescent has been self-injuring themselves for months before the parents become aware of the situation and often it is the school that is notifying them about the self-injury.
• Peer Pressure: While many students who know people who also self-injure peer pressure has little effect on continuing the behavior. What seems to be happening is that it is the peer group that is offering support and a place to discuss their issues. Often the teen will say my parents just don’t understand and the only people who care are my friends.
• Alcohol and Drugs Increase the Likelihood of Self-Injury: What they all have in common is that self-injury, drugs and alcohol sooths emotional distress. The behavior in an adolescent who self-injures as a way to regulate their emotions would really not be triggered by alcohol or drug use.
• It’s a Failed Attempt at Suicide: First let me say if you or family members are worried about whether the self-harm is an intention to die please have the adolescent evaluated by a professional. More often self-harm is not a failed suicide attempt but rather a means of self-soothing a means of trying to deal with the pain. It is important that any adolescent who is going through self-injuring undergo a thorough suicide assessment by a qualified professional.

Demystifying some of these issues can help you better know and talk with your adolescent. And, if you have concerns about your adolescent, whether they are self-injuring or not, consider finding a counselor that relates well to your teen. See my post Choosing a Counselor for help finding a counselor that works well for your family.