Many people grapple with difficult feelings that lead them to harm themselves as a way to cope. It’s a complex issue, often tied to deeper trauma, anxiety, or stress, and it can impact anyone, regardless of age or background. At Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health, we understand the challenges associated with self-harm and aim to offer compassionate, evidence-based support.
Our self-injury treatment program provides a safe and nurturing space where you can explore the underlying reasons behind self-harm and work toward healing. At Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health, we understand that self-injury isn’t simply a “bad habit” or something you can easily stop on your own. It’s often a coping mechanism that feels like the only way to manage intense emotions or experiences. Our approach combines trauma-informed therapies with evidence-based practices to help you uncover the roots of these behaviors, so you can find healthier ways to process and express your emotions. To learn more, call us today at 855.520.0531.
Understanding Self-Harm
Self-harm can look different for everyone. It may include behaviors like cutting, scratching, burning, or hitting oneself. Sometimes, people might engage in substance use or even risk-taking behaviors, all of which are ways to distract from or numb their emotions. Even though these actions may bring momentary relief, they can quickly spiral, leading to further emotional distress or physical harm.
Many who self-injure may feel that they’re “out of options” or that these behaviors are the only way to regain control. Understanding that these behaviors are a form of self-harm—and acknowledging them—is often the first step toward seeking help.
What Is Considered Self-Harm?
Self-harm can manifest in many forms, some of which may not immediately be recognized as self-injury. Sometimes, people only think of self-harm as physical actions like cutting or burning, but it’s broader than that. Self-injury includes any behavior where someone intentionally inflicts harm upon themselves to cope with overwhelming emotions.
If you’re engaging in actions to manage intense feelings or numb difficult emotions, you may be self-harming without even realizing it. You might not consider some of these actions as self-harm, but they can be ways of coping that, over time, may leave you feeling worse.
Identifying Self-Harm Behaviors
Take a moment to reflect: Are any of the following behaviors familiar to you?
- Cutting or scratching – Using sharp objects to cut or scratch yourself can sometimes feel like an outlet for releasing emotional pain.
- Burning – Intentionally burning the skin, even if lightly, can be a form of self-injury often driven by a need to feel something different or to “ground” oneself.
- Hitting or punching – Harming yourself by punching walls, banging your head, or hitting parts of your body can be another expression of internal turmoil.
- Risk-taking behaviors – Some people engage in reckless or dangerous activities to experience adrenaline, hoping it distracts them from emotional pain.
- Substance misuse – While not always recognized as self-harm, using drugs or alcohol to the point of harming oneself physically or mentally can also be a way of coping.
- Picking at skin or reopening wounds – Some people repeatedly pick at their skin, scabs, or wounds, which can be a form of self-soothing even if it leads to more harm.
- Over-exercising – Exercise is healthy, but if done to extremes as a way to punish oneself or cope with emotions, it can become harmful.
- Intentional starvation or binge eating – Although often separate from self-harm in the strict sense, some people use food as a way to control their pain or express frustration.
Better Understanding Self-Harm
If any of these behaviors resonate with you, it’s OK to feel unsure or even surprised. Understanding self-harm is a crucial step toward understanding how deeply emotional pain can impact your life. Realizing that you’re not alone in this experience can make the idea of reaching out for support feel a little more accessible.
At Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health, we’re here to help you explore these behaviors with compassion and without judgment. Our team is ready to support you in finding healthier, more constructive ways to cope.
Get in Touch With The Self-Injury Treatment Program at Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health Today
Our self-injury treatment program at Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health integrates trauma-informed therapies that don’t require you to put your life on hold. With options like our intensive outpatient program (IOP) and partial hospitalization program (PHP), you can engage in treatment while balancing your daily responsibilities. We understand that life doesn’t stop because you need help, and we’re here to work with you on your schedule.
If self-harm has been your coping method, consider reaching out to Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health today at 855.520.0531 or by using our convenient online contact form. There’s no need to face this journey alone. Remember that compassionate support is available. Let us help you rediscover a life free from self-injury, where healthier coping mechanisms and self-compassion are possible.