A Cry for Help: A lesson on self-abuse

Self-abuse is where one inflicts some form of pain or abuse unto themselves. This pain/abuse can vary drastically, from individuals who diet themselves to starvation, to other individuals with scars all along their inner arms. However, despite the act itself, the pain behind the cause, is the same over powering feeling of emptiness, rejection and loss.

There are many different forms of self-abuse:

-> Eating Disorders

· Anorexia Nervosa

· Bulimia Nervosa

· Over Eating

-> Self-Mutilation

· Cutting

· Burning

· Excessive piercing and tattooing/self piercing or tattooing

-> Suicide

This article will concentrate on Self-Mutilation, as it is one of the more unknown acts, that is rapidly growing amongst teenagers.

Self- Mutilation is the act of deliberate harm to ones own body by their own free will without the aid of any other individual. The visual results of self-mutilation are often sever enough to result in some form of tissue damage. (Scarring, bleeding, burn marks, etc.)

Why would anyone mutilate themselves?

The injury result of mutilation becomes a release valve to the abuser. With ever individual the reason varies, however, behind each reason is the same feeling of an over powering burden of pain. Often, one who mutilates themselves is indeed depressed and under contemplation of suicide, yet (thankfully) is frightened of the actual results of suicide, or finds reason why they cannot depart. Thus, the mutilator will take their abundance of pain and secretly express it with physical pain unto themselves as their form of venting.

Three issues looked at along with self-mutilation are:

-> Directness

Refers to how intentional the act is. Looks at if the act was complete briefly and with full awareness of its harmful nature, and with conscious intent to indeed produce the final effects. If the above is accurate, it is considered direct.

-> Lethality

Refers to the likelihood of death resulting from the act. A lethal act is one that likely to result in death, which often is the ultimate purpose of the act.

-> Repetition

Refers to if the act is done only once or if it is repeated more frequently.

Generally a self-mutilator is often direct, with low lethality, and much repetition.

Self-Mutilators are often individuals who:

· Strongly dislike themselves

· Are often very angry (usually with themselves more so then with others)

· Suffer from anxiety

· Are depressive in nature

· Are suicidal, or contemplating suicide

· Feel powerless

· Feel they have little or no control

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