Self-injury
intentional injury to one's own body without the intention to kill oneself / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Self-injury (SI) or self-harm (SH) occurs when a person hurts their body on purpose. This kind of harm is not suicidal behavior.[1] Many self-harmers hurt themselves because they feel it is the only way to stay alive.[2] However, in some cases the self-harm becomes so bad it can lead to death,[3] and those who self-harm are more likely to commit suicide than those who do not.[4]
There are many different reasons why a person may hurt themselves, though it is often hard to find an exact cause.[5] Sometimes, the self-harm helps relieve unbearable emotions, or feelings of unreality or numbness. Self-harm is often a symptom of other problems. These problems may include physical abuse, sexual abuse, or eating disorders. Self-harm may also stem from mental problems such as low self esteem or perfectionism.[6]
Studying the causes of self-injury can be difficult or inaccurate, because many self-harmers try to hide their injuries.