SELF INJURY SUPPORT LINKS

Cutting and self-mutilation are not the only form of self-injury. There are forms of self injury which involve head banging, eyeball pressing, biting and hair pulling.
The most extreme form results in permanent disfigurement such as castration or limb amputation

Self Injury is defined as:

Any deliberate, intentional injury to one’s own body that causes tissue damage or leaves marks for more than a few minutes and these acts are done to cope with an overwhelming or stressful situation.

The most common acts are:

• Cutting - Making cuts or scratches on your body with any sharp object
• Picking at skin or re-opening wounds (dermatillomania)
• Hair-pulling (trichotillomania) from any part of the body.
• Branding - burning self with a hot object
• Friction burn - rubbing a pencil eraser on skin
• Hitting, Head-banging
• Multiple piercing or tattooing when used to relieve stress
• Drinking harmful chemicals

If you or someone you know is engaging in this type of behavior, please seek help. Self Injury can lead to death.

Below is a list of links and hotlines for self-injury support:

• Self Injury Helpline: 1-800-DONT CUT (1-800-366-8288)
• Self-Help: Organized and otherwise This section contains a variety of ways that you can stop yourself from making that cut or burn or bruise right now.
• Mirror Mirror: Specializing in Eating Disorders but this is a great SI page.
• Helpguide: "The number of young people who participate in acts of self-mutilation is growing. Recovery is a continuous process and learning how to stop this addictive behavior is within your reach if you work at it."
• American Self Harm Information Clearinghouse: Strives to increase public awareness of the phenomenon of self-inflicted violence and the unique challenges faced by self-injurers and the people who care about them.
• Secret Shame: Lots of good stuff in here.

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