How many times have you heard of people who, in moments of sadness or anger, end up hurting themselves? Self-harm is a disease, a phrase that may cause shock, but is a bitter truth. In this writing, we invite you to explore, understand, and professionally deal with the serious and grave issue of self-harm.

This problem is far from being exclusively attributed to “teen dramas”. It affects people of all ages, genders, and social classes. Ignoring emotional needs can lead to serious consequences like this. As professionals, we have a crucial role in understanding and treating self-harm.

The Brazilian Society of Hypnosis presents in this article a comprehensive view on the subject. From defining and understanding the disease, identifying signs and symptoms, exploring scientific diagnosis to addressing effective treatments like clinical hypnosis, these are valuable tools to help those going through this torment.

Are you ready to dive into this journey of knowledge and compassion? Believe it, your role is essential in aiding and supporting individuals in vulnerable situations due to self-harm. Ready to start?

Understanding Self-Harm: What We Are Talking About

Let’s start by clarifying: when we talk about self-harm is a disease, we are addressing a serious mental health problem. It involves a series of behaviors that intentionally cause harm to one’s own body, such as cutting the skin, burning oneself, or hitting oneself. While it is a way of dealing with deep emotional pain, it is important to remember that it is extremely harmful and dangerous.

According to the Clinical Psychology Review, up to 17% of young people will self-harm at some point in their lives. Adults are also subject to this behavior. It is not an exclusive modality of any gender, socioeconomic status, or age group.

Often, self-harm is seen as a silent cry for help, a way to intimately express unspoken or even misunderstood emotional pain. Feelings of sadness, emptiness, anger, or social pressures can trigger this behavior. But, above all, it is crucial to understand that: self-harm is a disease, not a choice.

Far from the mainstream of mental health debates, self-harm is a largely underestimated and neglected topic. Failing to understand its relevance and complexity can result in inadequate and even harmful approaches for those struggling with this issue. Therefore, it is essential to broaden our view on the matter, promoting a lucid and informative discussion.

This information is crucial for everyone, not just health and education professionals, but also for family and friends who may identify and potentially assist someone at risk.

Self-Harm as a Mental Disorder: What Science Says

Entering the field of science, studies have been categorizing self-harm as a mental health problem. This behavior, characterized by deliberate self-injury without suicidal intent, is classified by many psychology and psychiatry experts as a Self-Harm Disorder (DSM-5).

According to research, those who engage in self-harm, for the most part, are young people. They are emotionally exhausted and resort to self-harm is a disease to deal with emotional pain or relieve psychological tension. Physical pain serves as a distraction, an escape from this internal torment.

The data is alarming! It is estimated that about 18% of adolescents and 13% of adults have engaged in self-harm at some point in their lives. These numbers highlight the urgent need to better understand this complex and concerning mental condition.

The World Health Organization (WHO) itself emphasizes the importance of treating mental health with the same seriousness as physical health. Unfortunately, self-harm is no exception to this imperative.

Why People Self-Harm: Risk Factors and Causes

We are talking about a complex behavior, so understanding the cause of self-harm is not an easy task. There are many factors involved. However, science has helped us identify some important patterns.

One of the main causes of self-harm is the difficulty in dealing with intense emotions. People may use physical pain to distract or alleviate emotional suffering. In these cases, “self-harm is a disease” can be seen as a misguided form of self-care.

It is also important to mention that this practice can be influenced by the social environment. This does not mean that social strata alone are a cause, but self-harm behaviors can be “learned” through friends, family, or even the media.

Additionally, there are well-known risk factors:

• Life phase transitions
• Pre-existing emotional and mental disorders
• Emotional traumas such as physical and/or emotional abuse

The list above does not exhaust the possible causes of self-harm. Each person is unique, and the combination of these factors can vary greatly. Therefore, an individualized approach to treatment is essential.

Finally, it is crucial to understand that self-harm is serious and cannot be ignored. We need to create effective strategies to improve the mental health of our society and help those facing this challenge.

Signs and Symptoms of Self-Harm: How to Identify

Identifying self-harm can be a challenge, especially because the person practicing it often tries to hide it. However, there are physical and emotional signs that can indicate this behavior.

The most obvious physical signs are cuts, burns, or scratches on the arms, legs, abdomen, or any other part of the body. If you notice someone frequently has new and unexplained injuries, it may be a sign of self-harm.

But self-harm also has less noticeable signs. The person may start wearing long clothes even in warm weather to hide the marks. Sudden emotional changes, excessive self-criticism, or an intense feeling of hopelessness can also be indicators that something is wrong.

Remember that “self-harm is a disease”, and those who practice it do not always know how to ask for help. Therefore, it is important to be attentive and willing to offer support.

However, it is important to emphasize that not all the signs mentioned necessarily confirm the practice. If you suspect, the best approach is to talk empathetically and non-judgmentally and refer the person to a mental health professional.

Effects of Self-Harm on Personal and Professional Life

In everyday life, self-harm can impose serious challenges, both in personal and professional aspects of the lives of those who suffer from this condition.

Thus, understanding that “self-harm is a disease”, it becomes clear that this condition can affect self-esteem, generate feelings of guilt, and alter the person’s perception of themselves.

These negative feelings, in many cases, lead to social isolation, reinforcing the cycle of suffering and distress. Furthermore, visible scars can cause embarrassment, limiting social interaction and decreasing performance at school or work.

• From a professional standpoint, self-harm can hinder the individual’s ability to handle pressures, compromise concentration, and reduce productivity.
• The physical marks of the act of self-harm can generate stigma in the workplace, leading to discrimination and exclusion.

Finally, we must not forget that, in extreme cases, self-harm can result in irreparable physical damage and even be fatal. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the severity of this condition and seek effective prevention and treatment methods.

Self-Harm and Its Relationship with Other Mental Disorders

Self-harm is not an isolated disorder. It can be strongly related to other mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This means that, when dealing with self-harm, we are actually dealing with a complex network of emotions, symptoms, and underlying causes.

According to recent studies, about 70% of people who self-harm suffer from a mood disorder, a factor that can trigger self-harming behavior. In turn, people with anxiety may self-harm as a way to temporarily relieve the intensity of panic or fear.

On the other hand, PTSD, associated with traumas or intensely stressful experiences, can promote self-destructive behaviors, including self-harm. Here, self-inflicted pain can be seen as a way to “silence” traumatic memories.

Therefore, the focus should be on seeking to understand the root of the problem for appropriate and integrated treatment. Clinical hypnosis can be an effective way to access such underlying factors, always when accompanied by multidisciplinary care.

Diagnosis of Self-Harm: Criteria and Evaluation

Is self-harm a disease? This is just one of the many questions that often revolve around the minds of mental health professionals. To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of the patient, as self-harm is often a symptom of broader disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorder, or borderline personality disorder.

Analyzing only the act of self-harm can be a mistake since it may just be the tip of the iceberg of a more complex mental health problem in the patient. To make a correct diagnosis, it is essential to consider the overall health panorama of the person.

Self-harm diagnoses generally consider factors such as:

• The emotional context in which the act of self-harm occurs;
• The frequency of self-injurious behaviors;
• Possible underlying psychiatric disorders, such as depression or anxiety;

Always remembering: self-harm is a silent cry for help. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and the correct approach are so important. With clinical hypnosis, we may be able to access the core of the problem: the emotions, beliefs, and traumas that fuel self-harming behavior.

Treatment for Self-Harm: Multimodal Approach

When dealing with self-harm, it is essential to adopt a multimodal treatment approach. Self-harm is a disease that requires specialized attention, as its motives and manifestations can vary greatly.

Usually, the treatment includes individual psychotherapy, group therapy, family therapy, and in some cases, medication.

Psychotherapy, or cognitive-behavioral therapy, has proven effective in reducing self-harming behaviors. This type of therapy teaches skills to manage stress, deal with negative emotions, and improve relationships with others.

Along with psychotherapy, Group Therapy is also indicated. The shared experience can provide a sense of belonging, reducing feelings of loneliness and misunderstanding.

Family involvement in treatment is very important. Family Therapy can help rebuild broken bridges and foster a healthy environment for the patient.

In some cases, the use of Medication is valid. Although there are no specific medications for self-harm, some may be useful in dealing with associated symptoms, such as depression and anxiety.

It is important to remember that each case is unique and should be treated as such. Working collaboratively with mental health professionals and the patient themselves is the path to effective treatment.

Clinical Hypnosis in the Treatment of Self-Harm: What the Evidence Shows

There are cases where self-harm is a disease resulting from intense stress, and in these cases, we know that clinical hypnosis can be a strong ally. It helps reduce high levels of anxiety and stress, allowing emotional difficulties to be better addressed.

It is worth noting that hypnosis is not magic, but a validated therapeutic technique and a complement to mental health treatment. When it comes to self-harm, preliminary studies indicate that the use of clinical hypnosis can help individuals deal with their emotions more healthily.

• By using hypnosis, the focus is to change the way the person will interpret their environment and how they will react to it. Often, this represents a significant step towards healing.
• For example, hypnosis can help the person reorganize their automatic thoughts of self-harm, making them more original and healthy.

However, it is important to stress: hypnosis is not a complete solution. It is a vital part of the treatment but should always be used alongside other therapeutic interventions. Whether in cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, or any other approach being implemented in the treatment.

In conclusion, when we talk about automation is a disease, it is clear that we need a complex and multifaceted treatment. Clinical hypnosis can be an important resource on this journey.

How to Help Someone Who Practices Self-Harm: Effective Steps

Helping someone who practices self-harm is a delicate yet very necessary mission. However, to conduct it effectively, it is necessary to venture into understanding what this person feels, without losing sight of the fact that self-harm is a disease, not an option or an attempt to seek attention.

One of the first steps is to adopt a compassionate attitude, avoiding judgments and condemnations. Remember, no one hurts themselves by accident. The emotional pain is so great that this individual feels the need to channel it into physical pain. Thus, open and welcoming dialogue is essential.

Open communication channels, be an active and patient listener. Encourage the person to talk about their feelings, offering them the opportunity to be understood in their pain. But keep in mind that respecting their limits and time is essential.

The next step is to seek professional help. Although it is crucial to offer emotional support, the intervention of health professionals is indispensable. Trained therapists and psychologists can use effective techniques, such as clinical hypnosis, in addition to medication when necessary.

Finally, be a constant source of support. Be present, your continuous and consistent involvement can encourage this person to continue with treatment, which significantly contributes to overcoming this disease.

Conclusion: Clinical Hypnosis, an Important Resource in the Treatment of “self-harm is a disease”.

Investing in knowledge, understanding, and training to help people repeatedly pointed out by statistical data is the most sensible and effective path to take. “Self-harm is a disease” that requires humanized, multidisciplinary care based on the best scientific practices available.

Help and support are essential for those living the painful reality of self-injury. Whether in cognitive-behavioral therapy, group support, or the clinical hypnosis approach, diagnosis, intervention, and recovery need to go hand in hand on this path to mental health and well-being.

Whether you are a professional or someone who wants to help a loved one, it is extremely important to learn about clinical hypnosis and its possible applications in health contexts. Hypnosis techniques can be a valuable tool in understanding and treating self-harm.

Are you interested in learning scientific hypnosis for professional application? To enhance your results in your current profession or even have a new profession? Discover the evidence-based hypnosis training and postgraduate courses from the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis. Investing in education and training is the first and most important step to effectively combat and treat self-harm. Join this movement!

Visit our website and find out more: https://www.hipnose.com.br/cursos/

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the relationship between self-harm and clinical hypnosis?

Clinical hypnosis presents an alternative approach to help those struggling with self-harm. Through relaxation and suggestion techniques, the hypnotherapist can help the person face the emotions and negative thoughts underlying self-harm. Thus, hypnosis can be an effective tool in multimodal treatment approaches.

How to identify if someone is self-harming?

Identifying if someone is self-harming is not always easy, as these actions are often kept secret. However, common signs include frequent cuts, burns, or scratches on the skin, wearing long clothes in hot weather to hide the marks, and behavioral changes such as social isolation or unstable mood.

Is self-harm linked to other mental disorders?

Yes, self-harm is often associated with other mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder. In any case, it is important to remember that self-harm is a symptom of emotional distress, not to be simplified to just one mental disorder.

What are the treatment options for self-harm?

Treatment options for self-harm generally involve a multimodal treatment approach. This may include individual therapy, family therapy, medication therapy, and alternative approaches such as clinical hypnosis, depending on the individual’s needs.

How can I help someone who practices self-harm?

Helping someone who practices self-harm can be challenging, but the first step is to offer emotional support without judgment. It is important to instigate an open and understanding conversation, encouraging the person to seek professional help with a qualified therapist or counselor.