Self-Mutilation Addictions/Behaviors

Self-injury, or self-mutilation, may be among the most disturbing and difficult to understand of all addictions or compulsive behaviors. The action can be described as the deliberate damaging of one's body without conscious intent to commit suicide. Many who inflict self-injury do so by cutting themselves and, therefore, are called "cutters".

For many individuals, compulsive actions and addictive behaviors are coping mechanisms. A majority of those who self-mutilate do so to eliminate deep feelings of pain - many of these individuals have suffered from sexual or physical abuse and/or emotional neglect throughout their lives. These individuals believe their feelings are unbearable, and think their only release can come through physical pain. Many who inflict injury upon themselves also have eating disorders and other emotional difficulties.

Because self-injurers sometimes go to great lengths to hide their injuries (for example, wearing long sleeves and long pants year-round) the numbers of those who suffer from this addiction are unknown. It is believed, however, that 750 out of each 100,000 American adolescents engage in self-mutilation every year. People who have been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, anorexia or bulimia self-mutilate at even higher rates.

What makes this compulsive disorder particularly disturbing is that it usually begins in late childhood and early adolescence. Though it can be a life-long problem for some, most self-mutilators discontinue the practice after 10-15 years - which is a long time to endure self- injury.

A large number of adolescents who self-mutilate come from homes where it is not uncommon to find one or more of the following conditions:

Alcoholism and substance abuse among parents and family members.
Violence that intimidates the individual into repressing healthy expressions of anger.
Dysfunctional relationship between the self-injurer and his parents or adult role models.
Loss of a parent through death, divorce or abandonment.

Very often people who hurt themselves also suffer from rapid mood swings, depression or bi-polar disorder. Other symptoms include perfectionist tendencies, including an intense dislike - and a compulsion to change - one's body or body shape.

While the vast majority of self-mutilators are cutters, some resort to burning themselves and other forms of self-injury. Cutters report that seeing the blood from cuts gives them a strange sense of well-being and strength.. Other cutters find the actions empowering - they feel strong and in control by enduring the self-inflicted pain.

Self-mutilation is an extremely difficult addiction to stop. Cutting, burning or causing self-injury in any other form may quickly relieve unbearable pain. The body releases its own narcotics - endogenous opiates - when injury is incurred, and some self-mutilators become "hooked" on the opiates' effects. Stopping the behavior immediately causes the individual to suffer withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, agitation and paranoia.

The dangers of self-mutilation include the following:

As individuals become tolerant of pain, they inflict of increasingly severe injuries on themselves.
Some self-mutilators develop infections that, if left untreated, can become life-threatening.
In severe cases, self-mutilation can lead to suicide.

As with any addiction, self-mutilators must want to stop before then can begin the recovery process. Many self-mutilators have found relief with twelve-step programs (such as Emotions Anonymous, E.A.), treatment centers, and one-on-one counseling.

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