Deliberate Self Harm

natalie · Site Admin Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 16

Last week i went to visit my daughters case worker. I was handed a information sheet relating to Deliberate Self Harm.

It states that 3 females to 1 male engage in DSH.

The common misperception is that young people who self harm do this in an attempt to commit suicide. However the opposite appears to be true...young people often engage in DSH so that they do not kill themselves???.....i feel that this does not mean that suicide is not a concern.

I guess i have great concern with this information as DSH may not be driven by suicidal intentions during the act but these developing behaviors may lead to unintentional suicides. Also what i see as a big concern is that DSH behaviors occur during a time of crisis when coping skills are poor ...this then would place young people at increased risk of suicide.

DSH is often associated with problems issues including depression, post traumatic stress disorder, emerging personality disorder, and abuse or neglect.

I'm posting this information to share my thoughts on this subject as it is close to home...well it is at home...happening to my 14 years old daughter and to see what people thought are on this subject???...are any other forum members going through this with their child/children???

natalie

Very Happy

Jenni28 · DAO training member Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 23

Natalie are there any signs that this is going on that you could share with me so i can keep eye on my daughter. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Smile

natalie · Site Admin Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 16

Hi Jenni,

sorry jenni i have not been around much i was not well but much better now.

In answer to your last post Jenni...my daughter likes to self harm by cutting her arms, scratching herself also on face...picking at her wounds preventing them from healing.

These are the main self harm issues that are happening at the moment. My daughter has the main problem of communicating verbally about her feelings and emotions.

I hope this has helped you out Jenni..if you need me to elaborate more please let me know.

Natalie Smile

pakrat · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:42 am Post subject:

I have similar issues even as an adult and in part, this led to my being diagnosed with autism as the self-harm was escalating due to pressures at work and at home.

I still pick at sores and pull hair out if I get majorly stressed. A couple of counsellors I saw said it is a stress release thing and actually means I am less likely to suicide. But there is the danger that a person could cut too deep and bleed to death.

The important thing with young people doing it (and anyone in fact) is that they have a trusted person who will listen to their concerns and not be judgemental.

I also find that nearly every time I self-harmed, I was also in the few days before a period so there was a strong hormonal influence affecting my ability to cope with frustrations and things such as people speaking rudely to me in shops.

It's important to have a person to talk to because we often bottle up frustrations and then one small thing sets off a seemingly disproportionate reaction.

The first few times I cut myself, I just did it because I was curious to see what would happen but then it was because of frustration from not being listened to or ridiculed.

Hope this helps in some way.

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