Selfinjury

You open an envelope, accidentally slice your thumb, and shake your hand in pain. While you rue the itsy-bitsy cut, there are others who self-inflict cuts, burns, hair pulls and punches. And they do it on purpose. They do this not to cause pain, but to escape it.

According to a recent study on self-injury conducted by Cornell and Princeton University researchers, almost half of the self-injurers surveyed began hurting themselves during the years they were most likely to be in college – between the ages of 17 and 22.

The study also revealed that nearly 17 percent of college students have participated in self-injurious behavior (SIB). Self-injurious behavior refers to a variety of actions in which an individual purposefully inflicts harm to his or her body, such as burning or cutting, without suicidal intent. The study included over 3,000 students between the two universities – the largest study on self-injury in the United States to date – and raises important questions about the growth of and motivation behind this disturbing behavior among youths.

“The underlying motivation for self-injury is not to attempt suicide, but rather to cope with stress, emotional pain, numbness and isolation,” said John Eckenrode, professor and director of the Family Life Development Center at Cornell’s College of Human Ecology.

Although the study was conducted on the Cornell and Princeton campuses, its findings may indicate a rising national trend. Young people today face larger workloads, greater financial stress, and intense peer pressure, but lack coping skills and resources for help, leading to an increase in psychological problems such as SIB.

Most self-injurers harm themselves to relieve pain – the self-injurious behavior helps them cope with anxiety or other negative feelings or relieve stress and pressure. It is a silent cry for help, not a suicide attempt. However, because of the secretiveness of the behavior and the fact that it is easily hidden, it can be difficult to discover and intervene. Fewer than 7 percent surveyed had ever sought medical help for their physical injuries even if they had hurt themselves more severely than they had intended.

Self-injury is often linked to, and can be a symptom of, childhood sexual abuse, eating disorders, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. Although not typically a sign of suicide, self-injurers are six times more likely to have considered or attempted suicide.

The most common methods reported by both young men and women in the survey were scratching to the point of bleeding, cutting or punching with the intent of causing injury. Self-injury occurs most often on the arms, hands, and wrists and can be merely superficial or as severe as permanent disfigurement.

Because of the private nature of self-injurious behavior, there is little research on successful detection and treatment. Some warning signs of SIB include unexplained burns, cuts, or scars on the skin – usually arms, fists, and forearms opposite the dominant hand. Other signs to look out for are inappropriate clothing for the season, such as long sleeves or pants in the summer, constant wear of wrist bands, unwillingness to participate in activities which require less body coverage, frequent bandages, and unexplained paraphernalia such as razor blades.

If you suspect that a student may be struggling with self-injurious behavior, take action. There are a growing number of resources and programs that can help people cope with this behavior. For more information on self-injury or the Cornell Research Program visit www.selfinjury.com or www.crpsib.com.

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