What is self-harm? It's a complicated and sensitive topic to broach, and the behavior is often misunderstood. Life is tough to navigate, and many people are just looking for a way to cope with their circumstances when they start to feel emotional and overwhelmed.
Around 1-5% of teens and young adults might resort to cutting and burning self-harm for some kind of release and distraction from what's going on.
It may seem like there's a direct correlation between someone harming themselves and attempting suicide. However, they aren't one in the same, and a teen or young adult who engages in self-harming behaviors may have never even contemplated suicide.
Self-harm is a way to express or release emotional pain, but it doesn't mean the person wants to die. The action might provide temporary relief, but it doesn’t address the underlying causes and often leads to more harm over time.
Unfortunately, self-harm in teens and young adults is more common than many realize. It’s estimated that some form of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in teens affects about 17% of adolescents. These behaviors typically begin as an attempt to manage distress, but they can quickly become a harmful cycle that feels impossible to break.
Thankfully, effective inpatient and residential treatment options can help. These programs provide a structured environment to address self-harming behaviors, uncover root causes, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Signs and Symptoms of Self-Harm in Teens
The first step toward getting help for yourself or someone you love is to learn how to recognize the teen self-harm symptoms. A lot of time the behavior goes unnoticed because it’s done in private and hidden from others, but there are physical and emotional signs of self-harm that might indicate someone is struggling.
Physical Signs
- Scars, burns, cuts, and other wounds that they can't explain.
- Frequently using bandages or making up excuses for injuries.
- Wearing pants or long sleeves, even in uncomfortably warm weather, because they need to cover their marks.
- Regularly carrying sharp objects or items that could be used to harm oneself.
Emotional Signs
- Withdrawing from family and friends.
- Increased irritability or sudden mood swings.
- Secretive behavior or avoiding questions when someone asks about their well-being.
- And abrupt dip in their mood after spending time alone, such as if they look more calm or withdrawn
Methods of inflicting pain vary, as everyone's situation is different. Cutting and burning self-harm are the most common, but scratching, hitting, or interfering with wound healing are also ways teens may harm themselves.
If you notice any of these signs, approach the situation with empathy and understanding rather than judgment.
Causes and Risk Factors for Self-Harm
Again, causing harm to oneself is rarely about wanting everyone to know what you're doing. It can be a source of shame for many, causing them to hide it. There is no singular motivation as to what causes self-harm, but here are some common triggers and teen self-harm risk factors:
Trauma
We all seem to share in the human experience of going through some form of trauma at one time or another in like. Various experiences like abuse, neglect, or losing someone you love can leave emotional wounds that feel like the weight of the world and like it's impossible to manage and fill that void. Teens who have experienced trauma may turn to self-harm as a way to regain a sense of control or to express pain they feel unable to articulate.
Bullying
Bullying is no joke whether it occurs online or in person. When a person gets bullied, it can lead to feelings of worthlessness and shame, which are huge teen self-harm risk factors that push this age group toward self-harm. This is especially true when the bullying involves social exclusion or public humiliation.
Mental Health Disorders
Additional conditions that affect mental health, like depression, anxiety, or PTSD can underlie self-harming behaviors. Teenagers may not have the tools to manage the intense emotions these disorders bring, which will compel them to find relief through self-injury.
Societal and Peer Pressures
Teens and young adults are incredibly vulnerable to the pressure to fit in, achieve academically, or meet social expectations. This age group is balancing the challenges of identity formation (figuring out who they are and who they want to be) with the need to belong, which can create intense emotional vulnerability.
Poor Emotional Regulation
Teens who struggle to identify and express their feelings might resort to self-harm as a way to bring their internal pain outside of their body, if that makes sense. It can get very intense if they were suffering from something like bipolar disorder where they already experience intense highs and lows.
Understanding these risk factors can help caregivers and mental health professionals create a more supportive environment for teens struggling with self-harm.
Mental Health Conditions Linked to Self-Harm
Self-harm is usually a symptom of deeper mental health issues such as mood disorders. Understanding these conditions can provide insight into why someone might engage in self-harm:
Depression: Feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or worthlessness can lead individuals to self-injury as a way to release emotional pain. Teens with depression or major depressive disorder may feel numb or detached and use self-harm to feel something—even if it’s pain.
Anxiety Disorders: Overwhelming fear or panic can make self-harm feel like a way to regain control. For some, the ritualistic aspect of self-harm provides a sense of order when everything else feels chaotic.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Intense emotions and impulsive behaviors often result in self-injury as a coping mechanism. Teens with BPD may use self-harm to express anger, frustration, or a need for validation.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Trauma survivors may turn to self-harm to manage intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or emotional numbness. For these individuals, self-harm might feel like the only way to ground themselves in the present moment.
Behavioral Issues Associated with Self-Harm
There are also behavioral patterns that are linked with self-harm that could occur at the same time as the mental health conditions.
Teens who self-harm may also engage in impulsive and risky behaviors like substance abuse or reckless actions. Shame or being scared to get judged for their actions (made fun of, called crazy, etc.) can lead to isolation, straining relationships with friends and family. This type of social withdrawal makes it harder for loved ones to see and acknowledge the severity of the issue. .
Difficulty Regulating Emotions
Self-harm often serves as a release valve for intense feelings that seem uncontrollable. Teens may not have learned healthy ways to express emotions, making self-injury feel like their only option. Poor emotional regulation in young adults can wreak havoc and lead to devastating consequences.
How Self-Harm Can Worsen Existing Issues
Self-harm might feel like a solution in the moment, but it can exacerbate other challenges over time. The act of self-harming can breed feelings of shame and anxiety, and that only perpetuates the cycle.
Aside from the emotional toll that these behaviors cause, the emotional distress can make it hard to concentrate or perform well in school or at work. This can create a cycle of stress and low self-esteem.
Continued self-injury increases the likelihood of infections, scarring, and even accidental severe injuries. Over time, these physical consequences can serve as painful reminders of emotional struggles.
Diagnosing Self-Harm in Teens
It's tricky when you're identifying teen self-harm. Though you might be able to use surface-level knowledge and world experience to recognize when someone you know is struggling, it takes careful observation and professional evaluation when diagnosing self-injury.
Parents, teachers, and friends can all serve to help along the path to diagnosing self-harm by keeping their eyes open and encouraging open conversations. Teens need a safe space to share their feelings without fear of judgment.
Mental health professionals know how to identify self-harm behaviors in teens. They use interviews, assessments, and input from caregivers to diagnose and the underlying causes. It’s so important to increase awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding self-harm; teens are more likely to open up when they feel supported rather than shamed.
Treatment Options For Teen Self-Harm
Recovery is possible, and the right self-harm therapy for young adults and teens can make a significant difference. Inpatient and residential self-harm treatment programs are often the most effective treatments for teen self-harm, providing structured care and 24/7 support.
Residential Treatment for Cutting and Self-Harm
Residential programs offer a safe environment where teens can focus on healing without the distractions or stressors of daily life. These programs typically include:
- Emotional regulation techniques
- Self-esteem-building activities
- Group and individual therapy sessions
- Opportunities to rebuild trust and communication with family members
Inpatient Mental Health Treatment
For severe cases, inpatient self-harm treatment for teens provides intensive, short-term care at mental health facilities for self-harm. This type of program focuses on stabilization and crisis management, often incorporating therapies like TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), and creative outlets such as art therapy.
Specialized Inpatient Treatment for Cutting
- CBT: Helps teens identify and change harmful thought patterns.
- DBT: Teaches skills like distress tolerance and emotional regulation.
- Family Therapy: Rebuilds trust and strengthens communication within families.
Coping Strategies for Teens and Young Adults
Anyone who engages in self-harming behavior has to find healthier ways to cope with their emotions. It's a huge step during the recovery process that has to be thoroughly fleshed out so that in moments of sudden anxiety, persistent depression, or whatever the emotion may be, the person knows how to get immediate relief.
Some alternatives to self-harm for teens include:
- Ice Cubes: Holding ice on the skin doesn't harm but can produce a shocking and numbing effect.
- Drawing: Drawing on the skin with a marker or pen might help produce a similar sensation to cutting but without the same level of danger.
- Journaling: Expressing thoughts in a journal is a great way to get all of your feelings out there (the good, the bad, and the ugly).
- Art: Any form of art can be amongst the most powerful self-harm alternatives out there. This medium offers an extremely powerful form of release, whether it be drawing, sculpting, playing music, etc.
- Mindfulness: Being mindful of your actions and intentionally positive can help create emotional balance.
- Yoga: Studies have shown the yoga is a highly relaxing activity that can promote peace and relaxation.
Building a supportive network of peers and family members is also essential when teens and young adults are trying to learn how to stop cutting and burning. When you feel connected and understood, you can reduce the urge to self-harm.
When to Seek Help for Teen Self-Harm
None of us have life all figured out. If you or someone you know is facing self-harm behaviors, take notice of the need for assistance to get over the hump. If these actions escalate or are accompanied by suicidal thoughts, professional help is imperative.
Residential programs like those offered by Mission Connection provide comprehensive self-harm help for teens and young adults. Reaching out for help isn’t a sign of weakness …it’s a step toward healing and reclaiming control. As soon as you realize there's a problem, that's how you know when it's time to seek help for self-harm.
Self-harm is a serious issue, but recovery is absolutely possible with the right care and support.
References:
1. Brown, R. C., & Plener, P. L. (2017). Non-suicidal self-injury in adolescence. Current Psychiatry Reports, 19(3), 20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0767-9
2. Guénolé, F., Spiers, S., Gicquel, L., Delvenne, V., Robin, M., Corcos, M., Pham-Scottez, A., & Speranza, M. (2021). Interpersonal relatedness and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors in female adolescents with borderline personality disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 731629. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.731629
3. Victor, S. E., & Klonsky, E. D. (2014). The role of trauma symptoms in nonsuicidal self-injury. Traumatology, 20(3), 197–203. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0099830
4. Stallard, P., Spears, M., Montgomery, A. A., Phillips, R., & Sayal, K. (2013). Self-harm in young adolescents (12–16 years): Onset and short-term continuation in a community sample. BMC Psychiatry, 13, 328. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-328