Self-harm or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is when a person intentionally harms the surface of their body without intending to cause a fatal injury. Common forms of NSSI include repeatedly cutting, burning, biting, carving, scratching the skin, or hitting oneself.
Even though these behaviors are maladaptive ways to cope, they can temporarily alleviate stress, painful memories, and difficult emotions or even give someone a sense of control when things are uncertain. A suicidal thought may also be expressed to avoid acting on it for some people.
Five Psychiatric Disorders That Increase the Risk of Self-Harm and/or Suicide
Although this is not an exhaustive list, the following are five of the most common disorders that do so:
1. Bipolar Disorder
A study in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that at least half of people with bipolar disorder engage in NSSI at some point in their lives. It is believed that people with this condition have a 20- to 30-fold increased lifetime risk of suicidal acts due to the severity of its symptoms; 5 to 6 percent will kill themselves on purpose. Females with bipolar disorder are more likely to attempt suicide, but males are more likely to die.
2. Borderline Personality Disorder
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5TR) includes repeated self-harming behavior as well as suicidal thoughts, threats, and attempts as one of the criteria for a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, which is characterized by impulsivity and instability in many aspects of life. Borderline personality disorder sufferers frequently experience recurrent episodes of NSSI, which can be used to alleviate unhappiness, alleviate intense emotions, or alleviate distress. Dissociative states can also lead to self-harm.
3. Depression
According to the previously cited study from the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 37% of individuals with unipolar depression, as opposed to bipolar depression, had participated in NSSI at least once. Even more troubling is the fact that some of the symptoms of this disorder, such as feeling hopeless and unable to find joy or pleasure in their lives, are known to increase the likelihood of suicide attempts. In general, people who suffer from major depression are 17 times more likely to commit suicide.
4. Schizophrenia
Self-harm is common among people with schizophrenia, a severe mental illness. In fact, when schizophrenia patients had a co-occurring substance use disorder (mostly cannabis), 43.6% of them self-harmed, according to research on NSSI. In this condition, suicidal thoughts are also very common, and 20% of schizophrenics will attempt suicide at least once. Delusions or demands brought on by their hallucinations may sometimes influence the decision to act in that manner. Schizophrenia has a high lifetime risk of suicide, with 5-6% of sufferers intending to take their own life.
5. Substance Abuse/Alcohol Use Disorders
Addictions are frequently associated with untreated mental health issues, including the aforementioned disorders. As a result, it should not come as a surprise that some people who struggle with alcohol or substance abuse also engage in self-harming behaviors, which, by their very nature, exacerbate underlying psychiatric symptoms. It is well-established that alcohol and illicit drugs impair a person’s judgment and impulse control even without addiction. This can make it more likely that an intentional act of self-harm will accidentally result in a fatal injury.
Conclusion
Although self-harming may provide a brief sense of relief, the underlying cause of your distress is unlikely to have vanished. In addition to making you feel worse, self-harm can also trigger difficult emotions.
It is essential to be aware that self-harm does come with risks, despite the fact that there are always reasons behind it. It can take a long time to stop using self-harm once you have become dependent on it.
And if you still seek any help regarding your health, then contact me right away!
