Why Do People Self-Harm?

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Some people self-harm regularly and others do it only once or a few times.  It can be hard to understand why someone else self-harms.  Some people say it’s a way of coping with a problem.  Others self-harm whenever certain feelings or pressures come up in their lives.

It’s different for every person, but a lot of people self-harm because they have been through a difficult or painful experience or relationship.  They might have been bullied, loss someone they loved, feel left-out or neglected, suffer from abuse, or have a serious illness.

It can happen to people when they’re feeling angry, frustrated, or bad about themselves and they have not found another way to deal with these negative feelings.  For some people it’s linked with low self-esteem and eating disorders or drug misuse.  It’s different for every person who self-harms.  If you’re worried about it you have the right to find out more information from someone you trust.

There are other ways to cope with difficulties.  You might want to talk to a counsellor if you have emotions that seem overwhelming or if you’re having specific trouble.  It can help put things in perspective when you get a chance to talk things over with someone who can listen.