Self-Harm Behavior in Teens Demystified
Demystifying Self-Harm Behavior in Teens:
Before I started working with teens, the term "self-harm" carried with it all types of stereotypes; the words "suicidal", "depressed", "self-hating" came to the forefront of my mind. There are many misconceptions about what self-harm behavior in teens is and is not, and I will do my best here to demystify the term, so that you can better help your teen when/if this issue arises.
Self-harm behavior in teens IS NOT a mental illness in and of itself. It is a behavior, a poor coping skill for things that teens and young adults face like stress, anxiety, peer pressure etc. Self-harm behavior in teens IS a sign of emotional distress. If you child is self-harming, it usually means that they are experiencing tough feelings that they feel they have no other outlet for. Self-harm behavior in teens IS NOT uncommon. Anywhere from 7% to 24% of youth ages 11 years and older report engaging in some type of self-harm. Self-harm behavior in teens IS NOT the same as attempting suicide. Most self-harming behavior is considered nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), where the person inflicting injury on themselves does not have suicidal intent. Self-harm behavior in teens IS something to be taken seriously. Even though most teens and young adults who engage in self-harm do not intend to kill themselves, they are at an increased risk of having suicidal feelings and need to receive treatment to learn alternative coping skills and to connect with the underlying emotions. As you can see, self-harm behavior in teens is complex and can be very scary to see your teen engage in. The best thing you can do is to seek help from a trusted professional so that your teen has an outlet to talk about some of the stressors in their lives and to learn healthy behaviors to deal with these stressors rather than resorting to hurting themselves.
At Harper Therapy, we have trained clinicians who can help your family as they walk down this path of healing and growth. Please give us a call at 813-434-3639.
