Dr. Kimberley Taylor's video: WHY DO PEOPLE ENGAGE IN SELF-INFLICTED VIOLENCE

WHY DO PEOPLE ENGAGE IN SELF-INFLICTED VIOLENCE? TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHY PEOPLE ENGAGE IN SELF-INFLICTED INJURY. THIS IS WHEN A PERSON PHYSICALLY ABUSES THEIR BODY AS A WAY TO DEAL WITH EMOTIONAL PAIN, OR TO BREAK FEELINGS OF NUMBNESS BY AROUSING SOME KIND OF SENSATION IN THEIR BODIES. ONE OF THE MOST COMMON FORMS OF SELF INJURY IS CUTTING, WHICH INVOLVES MAKING CUTS OR SCRATCHES ON THE BODY WITH A SHARP OBJECT. BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER FORMS OF SELF HARM INCLUDING: BURNING, BITING, HEAD BANGING, PIERCING THE SKIN WITH SHARP OBJECTS, PUNCHING OBJECTS TO HURT ONESELF, PULLING HAIR OR INTERFERING WITH WOUND HEALING. PEOPLE WHO INJURE THEMSELVES ARE USUALLY TRYING TO MAKE THEMSELVES FEEL BETTER BY HURTING THEIR BODIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIFFICULTY EXPRESSING THEIR EMOTIONAL PAIN. SELF-HARMING CAN OFTEN START IN THE EARLY TEEN YEARS WHEN EMOTIONS ARE MORE VOLATILE AND WHEN THERE IS INCREASED PEER PRESSURE, LONELINESS AND CONFLICTS WITH PARENTS. AND BECAUSE THEY USUALLY HAVE DIFFICULTY EXPRESSING THEIR EMOTIONAL PAIN, THEY OFTEN GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO KEEP THEIR SYMPTOMS SECRET. THEREFORE IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO SPOT THE SIGNS OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW AND HOW CAN YOU HELP SOMEONE WHO SELF-INJURES? JOIN ME WITH MY GUEST KIMBERLY ENNS, MSW, RSW FROM THE CRISIS TRAUMA RESOURCE INSTITUTE AS WE DISCUSS SELF-INJURY AND HOW TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND HELP THOSE YOU SUFFER FROM THIS ISSUE.