Beating yourself up meaning

When it comes to self-harm, there are two important problems that practitioners face. The first is the lack of high-quality statistics in Russia. In our country, few people talk about self-harm, unlike, for example, the USA, Canada and European countries. According to official data from these countries, almost 27% of teenagers and 5% of adults have or have experienced some form of self-harm (cuts, burns, bumps, hair pulling, extreme hot showers, preventing scars from healing, substance use, etc. ). nine0005

The second is the absence in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) of a single article describing self-harm. More often, such behavior is mentioned as one of the accompanying symptoms of the disease - personality disorders, addictions, or, for example, eating behavior. Because of this, in people's minds, self-harm is very strongly associated with serious mental disorders. However, episodes of self-harm occur both in people with disorders and in mentally healthy people.

Related material nine0005

Types of self-harm

There are three types of auto-aggressive behavior: suicidal, non-suicidal, and “accidental” self-harm.

Suicidal self-harm is not just a desire to harm yourself, but a desire to end everything that is happening here and now. It most often manifests itself in people in adolescence or in a midlife crisis, for example, in depressive states. The non-suicidal form of self-harm is often expressed in the desire to hurt oneself, inflicting cuts and wounds on oneself. Sometimes it is confused with suicidal manifestations, believing that if a person cuts his hands, he wants to commit suicide. But the essence of non-suicidal self-harm, on the contrary, lies precisely in causing pain to oneself, and not in the desire to stop it, as well as in control over one's own body. nine0005

Also, non-suicidal self-harm can be accompanied (or hidden behind) the use of certain substances - from alcohol, drugs and nicotine to dietary supplements. The latter, for example, is characteristic of orthorexia, a form of eating disorder when a person is obsessed with the idea of ​​a healthy lifestyle and severe food restrictions. Or, for example, when people "swing" their muscles in the gym to abnormal states - this is also a form of auto-aggression.

Subconscious self-harm

The last type - "accidental" self-harm - can occur in situations where a person does not understand what he is doing, but his inner drive to inflict physical harm on himself manifests itself unconsciously. That is, this is not a "crime by negligence" when a person accidentally cuts himself or somehow harms himself. This is a subconscious desire to hurt yourself - for example, due to psychological trauma.

Such "accidental" self-harm can also include a generally culturally acceptable phenomenon, such as losing weight or gaining weight. For example, if a woman has experienced physical or emotional abuse, she may unconsciously change her eating behavior and begin to gain weight, associating the trauma with her appearance and believing that in this way she will lose her attractive shape and this will never happen to her again. nine0005

It is important to understand that even if the self-aggression itself is not suicidal, the consequences of self-harm can be the most serious - self-destructive behavior often serves as the first wake-up call, signaling problems with mental health.

Related material

Causes and triggers of self-harm

So why do people cut themselves, injure themselves, lose weight extremely, and torture their bodies in other ways? All self-harm methods are an attempt to maintain control. When a person loses control over life in its various manifestations, feels lonely and does not feel stable, the only thing left that he thinks can be controlled is his body. Auto-aggression as a psychological defense allows you to relieve stress, shift the focus from the lack of control over the life situation: “This is my choice - to take an extra load in the gym. It's my choice not to eat all day. It's my choice to hurt myself." nine0005

People who suffer from eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, very often respond to the fears of loved ones that they have everything under control. And in this case, self-harm can be a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Autoaggression, in principle, often manifests itself not only with OCD, but also with other diseases - depressive disorders, borderline personality disorder, bipolar personality disorder.

Self-harm and personal crisis

Healthy people can also begin to harm themselves against the background of depressive conditions or life crises. It is impossible to say for sure that one person is prone to self-harm and the other is not. But we do know that some triggers trigger self-harm—anxious emotions, feelings of isolation, relationship difficulties, social pressure, and difficulties at school or work.

The risk of self-harm increases during periods of life when suicidal tendencies are on the rise, such as during adolescence. This is a time of sharpening character traits, a time of behavioral disorders - and therefore among people who engage in self-harm, we often see teenagers. nine0005

But this does not mean that self-injurious behavior cannot begin in adulthood - people who experience age-related and existential crises are also at risk. For example, when a person loses his life's work or earnings, experiences a difficult divorce or the death of a loved one, he experiences a terrible internal, existential crisis. The experience of grief is very often associated with self-harm - it seems that you are just a pawn in the huge chaos of life, and you need to deal with it somehow. This is how stories appear when a person who has lost his business begins to live in a gym, take anabolics and steroids and frankly harm his body. But no one sounds the alarm, because a person is engaged in sports, what is wrong here. nine0005 In group therapy, the patient sees that he is not alone (Photo by Getty Images)

Ways of treatment

Everything is very individual here and depends on what led the patient to self-harm. Researchers at the Melbourne Institute identify several strategies for helping people with self-injurious behavior: through wanting to help oneself, distraction, feeling connected to others, creating a support group, making changes in areas of life, and replacing self-harm with healthy control mechanisms. nine0005

To cope with self-harm, it is best to consult a specialist - a psychotherapist or psychiatrist. Self-harm is the deviation in which a person needs a person: they need the ability to control their relationships with other people and with themselves. Therefore, one of the best practices that help people with auto-aggressive manifestations is group therapy and group anonymous meetings. In group therapy, the patient sees that he is not alone, that other people experience the same thing, share it freely and overcome self-harm. nine0005

Related material

If your loved one or friend suffers from self-harm, it is first of all important to understand that, as in addiction stories, he must want to get help himself. Imposed help is bad help, it will only cause aggression. You can start with soft intervention. During it, close people get together and broadcast to a person showing destructive behavior, complicity and empathy: it is important that the person is not attacked, but told how they love him and see what is happening to him, how they are afraid to lose him. At such an intervention, friends and loved ones share how the person's condition has affected their lives and what they want for him. nine0005

The main goal of the process is to stir up the person emotionally, to show that there is another way. It is desirable that a therapist or psychiatrist be present during the intervention, who will help to conclude a “contract” - to agree with the person that at the end of the conversation he will leave for the clinic to undergo therapy and receive help. If a child suffers from self-harm, then the parent can refer him to a psychiatrist in order to work out a systematic treatment and begin active assistance.

Self-injurious behavior

In this article, we provide a brief overview of the main issues related to self-injurious behavior in people with autism, its possible causes and ways to deal with this problem.

One of the biggest challenges faced by people with autism spectrum disorders and their families and friends is the need to cope with self-injurious behavior. Such behavior is usually caused by a complex of reasons, and can pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of an individual. The traditional behavioral approach is not always effective on its own when dealing with self-harm. To cope with this difficult problem, you need to seek the help of specialists. nine0005

For more information on behavioral work with people with ASD, please visit: www.autism.org.uk/behavior

What is self-injurious behavior?

Self-injurious behavior (it is also self-aggression) - actions as a result of which a person inflicts physical harm on himself:

• Head beating
• Biting hands
• Pulling one's own hair
• Eye scratching
• Blows to the face or head
• Pinching, scratching and rubbing to abrasions of the skin
• Strong head bobbing

Self-injurious behavior is most common in people with reduced intelligence, who, in addition to autism, have other disorders. But in one form or another, anyone with an autism spectrum disorder can face this problem. If they have dealt with self-harmful behavior in the past, it may return at times of stress, illness, or when significant changes are taking place in a person's life. nine0005

Causes

The reasons why a person develops self-injurious behavior are extremely diverse. Most often it is caused by a combination of various factors. The head-banging habit, which originated as a form of sensory stimulation, can later be used as a way to avoid a difficult task. Blows to the ear, provoked by severe otitis, can then occur as an attempt to get what you want from others. Below you will find some more possible causes of self-injurious behavior. nine0005

Medical problems or toothache

If your child is having self-injurious behavior, the first and most important thing to check is whether he is suffering from toothache or other health problems. People with autism usually find it difficult to communicate their condition, especially if they are not feeling well. Sometimes self-injurious behavior (for example, if a person hits his ear, banging his head against a wall, etc.) can be provoked by the inability to report their condition, or be one of the ways to cope with pain. Here is a list of possible problems that self-injurious behavior can signal:

Infectious diseases (colds, flu, runny nose, ear infections or diseases of the genitourinary system)
Pain (migraine, ear, toothache or menstrual pain)
Seizure activity (for various types of epilepsy)
General health problems (constipation, problems with digestion, skin diseases)
Researchers also suggest that there may be a link between some types of self-harm, various types of compulsive behavior and tics. It is believed that the frequency of self-injurious behavior increases in stressful situations (Clements and Zarkowska, 2000). nine0005

Neurochemical theories

Researchers have also suggested that there may be a link between self-injurious behavior and features of the body's neurochemical systems.

Endogenous Opiodine System
Research has shown that some people with ASD have elevated levels of beta-endorphins, which increase pain threshold and may thus lead to self-injurious behavior. It has also been suggested that self-harm may promote the release of opioids, which cause a feeling similar to euphoria and help reinforce unwanted behavior. nine0005

Serotonin

Some researchers have suggested that the increased blood levels of serotonin found in some people with ASD may cause problem behaviors, including self-harm (Gillberg and Cole, 1992).

Dopamine

Studies have shown that in the brain structures of people with Losch-Niechen syndrome (a hereditary disease, one of the symptoms of which is self-injurious behavior), there is an imbalance in the production of dopamine. Scientists believe that this may have an impact on the development of self-injurious behavior. nine0005

Sensory stimulation (increase or decrease in stimulus)

Similar to the opioid effects discussed above, self-injurious behavior can be triggered by a desire for additional sensory stimulation (especially if the person has an elevated pain threshold due to high levels of beta-endorphins) , or to cope with sensory overload (for example, hitting the head may be an attempt to cope with exposure to loud or unpleasant sounds, such as a dog barking or a lawn mower). nine0005

Developmental stages

Some self-injurious behaviors are residual manifestations of motor actions characteristic of earlier stages of development (eg, hand biting, a characteristic of infants, may persist into older age).

Communication and learned behavior

Very often self-injurious behavior occurs in people who otherwise cannot communicate their needs, needs and feelings. If a person begins to bang his head terribly, there is a high probability that he will get what he wants, whether it be the attention of loved ones, an object, access to a pleasant activity, or the ability to avoid a difficult task. nine0005

Blows to the head can signal that the person is upset and trying to control their feelings. For some, the habit of biting their hands helps to cope not only with grief, but also with great joy. Some people start pinching themselves or pressing on their eyeballs if they lack sensory input or are simply bored.

By analyzing the reactions of others, people quickly realize that self-injurious behavior is a powerful way to keep them in check. Thus, self-harm (such as hitting the head), which initially occurred in response to physical pain or discomfort, gradually becomes a way to get the desired behavior from others (for example, to keep the mother on the TV). nine0005

Repetitive behaviors

Repetitive behaviors, obsessions and states are common in people with autism spectrum disorders. One form of such conditions can be self-injurious behavior.

Mental disorders

In some cases, self-injurious behavior may be caused by underlying mental problems such as depression or an anxiety disorder. This is especially true for people with high-functioning forms of autism, or Asperger's syndrome. nine0005

Strategies

Here are some basic ideas to help you prevent or respond to self-harming behavior in your loved ones. However, if self-injurious behavior could cause serious injury to oneself, we strongly recommend seeking professional help first.

How to prevent

What daily activities can prevent self-injurious behavior.

Eliminate health problems and toothache

Make an appointment with your patient's lead doctor and, if necessary, get a referral to the necessary specialists. Gather and take with you in advance data on all instances of self-injurious behavior: what day, what time the episode occurred, how often the behavior occurs, when it starts, how long it lasts, etc. Your notes will help your doctor figure out if the self-injurious behavior could be caused by physical discomfort or pain.

Determine the behavior function

Try to understand the function of the self-injurious behavior in this situation. The function of self-harm can be both the search for sensory stimulation and the reaction to pain. In general, a functional analysis of behavior is a rather complicated procedure, and in this matter it is better to resort to the help of a specialist.

Develop Communication Skills

Teach your client to communicate their wants, needs, and discomforts in a more acceptable way than through self-injurious behaviors such as cards. nine0005

Use a schedule and maintain a structured environment

Try to maintain a consistent schedule so that events throughout the day are predictable and, as a result, cause less anxiety for your client. Try not to be bored and busy all the time, limit opportunities to resort to self-injurious behavior. Separately plan how you will deal with difficult situations or difficult moments during the day. During this time, try to structure the environment even more and provide the ward with additional support and assistance. nine0005

Provide opportunities for sensory stimulation

If the cause of self-injurious behavior is seeking sensory stimulation, provide opportunities to experience similar sensations in a more acceptable way and make these activities part of your daily routine. Jumping on a trampoline or riding a merry-go-round can stimulate the vestibular apparatus just as much as the habit of shaking or banging your head. By giving your litter a whole bag of chewable items (either edible or not): gum, carrots, dry pasta, nougat, you can greatly reduce his need to bite his hands. nine0005

Exercise in mind

Scientists suggest that regular aerobic exercise not only improves emotional and physical well-being, but also reduces self-injurious and aggressive behavior (Rosenthal-Malek & Mitchell, 1997). Aerobic activities include running, swimming, cycling, trampolining, dancing, aerobics, etc. It is best if classes take place at least three times a week. Think about what might be of interest to your ward, and include sports activities in your daily schedule. In some cases, before starting training, you will need to enlist the support of a professional trainer. nine0005

Reward the desired behavior

Make a habit of reinforcing alternative behaviors and situations throughout the day where your client does not harm himself. This will help him understand that when he behaves differently, it leads to pleasant consequences. Thus, he will more often choose an alternative form of behavior in order to receive encouragement. Encouragement in this case can be both verbal praise and attention, and joint pleasant activities, toys, tokens or favorite treats in small quantities. Make it clear which behavior deserves a reward (“Jane, you are looking forward to it”) and try to provide reinforcement immediately after the desired behavior (“Now you can play 10 minutes on the computer”). Be aware that not all people with ASD appreciate social rewards. For some, verbal praise may not be a pleasure, but another stressor that will reduce the likelihood that a person will behave the way you want again in the future. nine0005

Medical Intervention

There is evidence to suggest that certain medications can significantly reduce self-injurious behavior in some people. However, along with physical restraint, drug therapy is considered one of the last means by which to influence a person who is faced with such a problem. Prescribing drugs and the treatment itself should be carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist, but even in this case, it is necessary to combine treatment with constant attempts to teach the person new skills and alternative behavior. nine0005

How to Respond

Quick Response is Safe

All self-harmful behavior should be dealt with as quickly as possible and addressed immediately. Even if the function of behavior is to attract attention, it is unacceptable to ignore a situation in which a person can cause serious harm to himself. The correct response to self-injurious behavior depends on many circumstances, but below we will give some general advice. It is very important that, despite the use of all these strategies, a person retains the opportunity to learn communication and self-regulation skills. nine0005

• Try to respond to self-harming behavior as calmly as possible. Don't comment, keep a straight face. Your emotional response may inadvertently reinforce the unwanted behavior. Speak calmly, clearly, without raising your voice.
• Reduce requirements if that's the issue. If your mentee is unable to complete the task (it turned out to be too difficult, or he is not able to do it at the moment), reduce the requirements, or completely abandon them. You will return to work later when he calms down. nine0076
• Remove the unpleasant sensory stimulus (sound, smell, light), or try to reduce its effect.
• Help with physical discomfort (eg, pain medication).
• Try to get the person's attention, call them by name and give them simple instructions they can follow instead of self-injurious behavior. For example: "David, fold your hands." Use visual cues to reinforce understanding of instructions.
• Quickly switch the person to another activity that will prevent them from continuing to hurt themselves (for example, something that needs to be done with two hands), provide encouragement and praise (“David, you are good at playing cars”). nine0076
• If your client is having a hard time stopping self-harm, you can help them gently, such as keeping their hands from hitting their head. Try to immediately switch it to another activity, but be prepared to keep from trying to harm yourself again. This approach should be used with the utmost care as there is a good chance that you will reinforce the unwanted behavior, or force the person to direct their aggression towards others.
• You can also set up a physical barrier that will prevent a person from harming themselves, for example:
• If your friend hits their head, place a hand or a pillow under their arm.
• If he bites his hands, let him bite another object.

If your child starts hitting their head against hard surfaces, have a pillow or bolster ready to place under their head to soften the impact. Also in special stores you can order a soft coating for the floor and walls, which will minimize possible injuries.

Get help

If the situation is out of control, contact the relevant authorities for help.

Physical restraint

In a situation where self-harming behavior poses a serious threat to human health, it may make sense to consider the use of protective equipment such as knee pads, elbow pads and helmets. Clements and Zarkowska (2001) suggest that such defenses will be easier to abandon later on than physical restraint (when you yourself restrain the ward from self-harm). Anyway, physical restraint and protective equipment is a last resort, they should be used with extreme caution and only under the supervision of a specialist. nine0005

In addition to ethical and safety considerations, even if protective equipment and physical restraints are applied very carefully, their use can increase the incidence of self-harmful behavior (Howlin, 1998). These measures do not affect the behavior itself, so it is very important that your ward learn new skills in parallel that will help him add what he wants in more acceptable ways.

Resume:

• Rule out toothache and other health problems
nine0075 Determine the behavior function
• Help your client learn alternative ways of communicating so they can communicate their needs.
• Structure your child's environment, set a schedule, and make sure he gets enough opportunities for sensory stimulation throughout the day.
• Frequently reward your client when he behaves in an acceptable manner or refrains from self-harm
• Respond quickly to self-injurious behaviors by interrupting them (gently restraining the person from harming themselves, or putting up a physical barrier if necessary) and divert their attention to another activity.

  ---

  Learn more
  • 
    Melatonin source natural
  • 
    I want to be independent
  • 
    Romantic dreams about coworkers
  • 
    Why do men like to give oral
  • 
    What effect can prolonged stress have on your immune system
  • 
    Insanity doing the same thing over
  • 
    Illnesses that mimic depression
  • 
    How to get out of a ptsd episode
  • 
    Signs of having adhd
  • 
    Teens sexting pics
  • 
    Childhood depression is likely to persist because