Self-Mutilation

• Self-mutilation is the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue, often not suicidal.
• Self-mutilation involves scratching, cutting, punching, banging objects or self-biting, ripping, tearing of the skin. It also includes carving, burning or hair pulling.
• Any of these actions especially towards areas such as the face, eyes, neck (jugular), breast, genitals, arms and legs are a taboo, destruction of the body.

Thesis: Self-mutilation is hypocritically viewed in the social, political and cultural arenas.

Three topic

Social

Piercings and Tattoos; Price of perfection; Cutting and hidden shame

Cultural

Abuse and Oppression; Tribal Markings; Religion

Political

Charter of Health Freedom; Censorship; Healthcare

Causes

• Not one particular causes
• Thought to be by inability to cope in healthy ways with deep psychological pain

Symptoms:

• Scars, such as from burns or cuts
• Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises or other wounds
• Broken bones
• Keeping sharp objects on hand
• Spending a great deal of time alone
• Relationship troubles
• Wearing long sleeves or long pants, even in hot weather
• Claiming to have frequent accidents or mishaps

Three Types of Self-Mutilation

Pychotic Self-Mutilation - Types of Psychotic Self-Mutilation include the removal or amputation of body parts, such as eyes (enucleation), limbs(Apotemnophilia), ears, and genitals. Includes Body Dysmorphic Disorder. These acts are usually done in response to visual or audible hallucinations. This type is severe and is easily identified.

Organic Self-Mutilation - Organic Self- Mutilation usually stems from autistic disorders, developmental disabilities, and other psychologically induced disorders. This type is always influenced by physical or chemical problems in the body. Forms of Organic self-mutilation include head-banging and lip-biting.

Typical Self-Mutilation - Typical Self-MutilationThese acts of SI are usually done in response to visual or audible hallucinations results because of emotional or psychological reasons not related to psychotic (hearing voices, seeing things that aren't there, delusions) or organic (physical) conditions. The majority of the people who self-mutilate fall into this catergory. This type is used to make yourself feel better and as a way of coping with your life. The following are the most common ways people hurt themselves:

• Cutting - Cutting, is the most common way people hurt themselves. It is typically done with a knife, razor blade, piece of glass, or other sharp objects. Most of the cuts are done on the arms, legs, wrists, and chest; but other people cut on other parts of the body such as the stomache, face, neck, breasts, and genitals.
• Burning - Burning is another common way people hurt themselves. Usually done with cigarettes, lighters, matches, kitchen-stove burners, heated objects (branding irons or hot skillets), and burning objects. Sometimes people even use flammable substances such as gasoline, propane, alocohol, and lighter fluid. Similar to cutting, most people burn themselves on their arms, wrists, legs, and chest.
• Interferance with the Healing of Wounds - Most people have unconsciously interfered with the healing of a wound but it is considered self-mutilation when it is done deliberately. Some people remove stitches prematurely, stick objects such as needles, pins, etc. into the wound, or do other things to reopen the wound.

• Hitting - Hitting themselves with their fists is another way that people hurt themselves that is most commonly done on the head or thighs. Although it may not seem as serious as cutting or burning it is done for the same reasons and results.
• Extreme Nail Biting - It is common for most people to bite their nails. But when it is used as a form of self-mutilation it is more severe and frequent than normal. It can result in the injury and damage of the fingernails or cuticles. People can bite their fingernails so much that they draw blood.

• Scratching - Another common thing amongst most people scratching can become a form of self-mutilation. People who use it as a method of make it more extreme in frequency, intensity, and duration. Area's of skin can become raw or sometimes even bloody. Usually the scratching is done with the fingernails but sometimes it is done with a sharp or semi-sharp object such as a knife, comb, or pencil
• Hair-Pulling - Trichotillomania, "the excessive and recurrent removal of your own hair resulting in a noticeable loss of hair," is the only form of self-mutilation recognized as a psychological disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Usually the hair is removed from the scalp, eyebrows, or beard, but can be from any part of the body.
• Breaking of bones - A form of self-mutilation that is more rare than the others, the breaking of bones is a serious and severe form. Usually, people break their bones with an instrument such as a hammer, brick, or other heavy objects. But sometimes people throw themselves into walls or doors.

Risk Factors for Self-Mutilation

• Age. Most people who self-mutilate are teenagers. Self-mutilation often starts in the early teen years, when emotions are more easily influenced, and conflicts with parents or other authority figures occur often.
• Having friends who self-injure. People who have friends who intentionally harm themselves are more likely to begin self-mutilating.
• Life issues. Some people who mutilate themselves were sexually, physically or emotionally abused as children or adults. They may also have experienced neglect in childhood.
• Mental health issues. Among those at highest risk are people who experience many negative emotions and are highly self-critical. People who self-mutilate are more likely to be impulsive and to have poor problem-solving skills.
• In addition, self-mutilation is commonly associated with certain mental illnesses, including borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders.

Treatment

• The standard treatment for self-injury involves focusing on emotional regulation through skills training. Clients are taught to pay attention to the irrational thoughts that might serve to fuel intensive feeling states. They are also taught to focus on the present rather than the past.
• Talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, family therapy, hypnosis, and medication are also used

Quick Facts

• The Rate of Relapse: 75% were injury free two years post discharge (with S.A.F.E Alternatives treatment)
• One out of every 200 girls between the ages of 13 and 19 practices self-mutilation regularly.
• Girls tend to be more prone to self-injurious behaviors but an estimated 11,000 American boys are also affected each year
• About 3,000,000 Americans self-harm
• Nearly 50% of self-injurers have been sexually or physically abused at some point in time

Famous people who self-mutilate

• Johnny Depp
• Angelina Jolie
• Demi Lovato
• Marilyn Mason
• Courtney Love
• Princess Diana

TWLOHA

• To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide

• The vision is people putting down guns and blades and bottles.
• The vision is better endings.
• The vision is the possibility that your best days are ahead.
• The vision is hope, and hope is real.
• You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story

10 Points

• Self-mutilation is the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue
• Most people who self-mutilte are not suicidal
• No one cause, but generally by inability to cope with emotions
• People who self-mutilate are not crazy
• Risk factors include: Age, Friends, Mental Health issues, Life issues, and other emotional or compulsive/ impulsive disorders
• Self-Mutilation is cutting, but also includes piercings and tattoos, cometic surgery, self-immolation, nail biting, and some forms of hair pulling

10 points Continued

• Treatment options available for self-mutilation include: talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, family therapy, hypnosis, and in some cases medication.
• Self-mutilation is most prodiment in females between ages 12-17 but involves every age group and ethnicity
• Three types of self mutilation include: Psychotic, Organic and Typical
• Famous people who self-mutilate include: Princess Diana, Johnny Depp, and Angelina Jolie

Questions?

Self-Mutilation

Self-mutilation or Art?

Self-mutilation or Religion?

Self-mutilation or Fashion?

Self-Mutilation or Protest

Between The Trees - The Way She Feels