Causes of Self-Harm

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The causes of self-harm are the things that set it off in the first place - not necessarily what makes the individual continue to self-harm.

 

The causes of self-harm may be:

  • bullying
  • abuse (sexual, emotional or physical)
  • neglect
  • school/work pressures
  • family financial difficulties
  • housing problems
  • relationship troubles
  • family problems
  • bereavement
  • loneliness/isolation
  • eating disorders
  • drug/alcohol problems
  • coming to terms with sexuality

…or any experience or event causing feelings, thoughts or tensions of a negative nature.

Sometimes individuals go for months without harming themselves, while others self-harm daily.

For some individuals, an episode of self-harm may be triggered by a significant life event, but for others the day to day fluctuation in their thoughts and feelings are too much to bear. Simple stresses such as breaking a glass, or running late for an appointment might be enough to create a tension so overwhelming in the individual that they self-harm to cope with this. For some, self-harm can become a habit; something they routinely do to survive on a day to day basis because they don't know what else to do.

Sometimes, even 'positive' experiences can create overwhelming feelings in the individual that they do not know how to manage.

For all individuals the starting point of recovery is to become aware of their reasons for, and drives to, self-harm; it is armed with this knowledge that they can then learn to respond differently to their difficulties. Recovery is always possible, however lost and overwhelmed the person feels.


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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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"Sometimes i look at my scars and see them more like battle scars that i feel proud of. And other times i feel ashaimed of them coz of the people i've hurt when i've harmed myself."

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