Symptons of Self-Harm

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Cutting

The most common form of self-harm is cutting your skin with a knife, razor blade, or a piece of glass. The cuts are not usually deep but, in some cases, medical attention is needed to clean, dress and stitch the wounds.

The most common areas to cut on the body are:

  • the wrists
  • upper arms
  • inner thighs
  • upper chest

Less common areas to cut include:

  • the face
  • breasts
  • abdomen
  • genitals


Other types of self-harm include:

  • burning your skin (usually with cigarettes)
  • scratching or picking at your skin
  • hitting or punching either yourself or an object
  • deliberately breaking your bones
  • pulling out your hair
  • swallowing poisonous substances, such as glue or bleach
  • taking an overdose of drugs, including prescription medication


Several other forms of behaviour are sometimes regarded as types of self-harm. For example:

  • misusing drugs
  • misusing alcohol
  • smoking too much
  • deliberately starving yourself (anorexia nervosa)
  • binge-eating – an eating disorder where you feel compelled to overeat
  • bulimia nervosa – an eating disorder where you binge-eat, then purge your body of the food, either by making yourself sick or by taking laxatives.

 

These types of behaviour can be very dangerous. For example, in 2007, alcohol misuse was responsible for more than 6,000 deaths. Illegal drug misuse kills around 2,000 people every year.

 

The more someone self-harms, the more dangerous it becomes. Research has shown that repetitive self-harm is more closely associated with suicidal behaviour (thinking about or attempting suicide), than occasional self-harm. 


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The Have I Got A Problem website is a free online resource to help people better understand any issues or concerns they may have about mental health or addiction. The website includes resources specifically focused to; general Mental Health, Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Insecurities, Self-harm Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anger Management, Eating Disorders, Coping, general Addiction, Alcohol, Smoking, Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana (Cannabis) Ecstasy, PCP, Mephedrone, Ketamine & Crystal Meth.

The site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.

www.haveigotaproblem.com was created and is run by 'Advising Communities’, which is a UK registered charity (Charity No. 1061055)

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