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Signs of Self-Injury

Although self-injury is not a specific mental illness or disease by itself, it is a type of abnormal behavior commonly associated with Borderline Personality Disorder. Many people who injury themselves will try to hide the evidence of their behavior, but there are several signs that you may notice.

There is a mix of emotions that drive some people to hurt themselves, and the mix is complex. People who injure themselves deliberately are often in deep psychological (emotional) pain but, unfortunately, they lack healthy ways to cope, so they turn to self-injury to gain relief from that pain. Self-injury is a physical sign of a non-physical pain.

Self-injury is sometimes associated with, but not necessarily caused by, medical and psychiatric conditions such as: personality disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and developmental disabilities such as mental retardation and Autism.

People with Borderline Personality Disorder who injure themselves will often try to keep their behavior a secret, so it may be difficult to spot signs of self-injury. However, if you do see outward signs, they may include the following:

• Scars, such as from cuts or burns
• Cuts, scratches, or other wounds
• Bruises
• Broken bones
• Keeping sharp objects on hand
• Spending a great deal of time alone
• Wearing long sleeves or long pants even in hot weather
• Claiming to have frequent accidents or mishaps

People who injure themselves deliberately typically feel overwhelmed by a mix of emotions, ranging from depression and hopelessness to anger and rage. They may feel ashamed and embarrassed about their self-injury and so try to hide it from others. Some people who engage in self-injury may be embarrassed because they secretly enjoy it, since it calms their emotional pain, even though this is only a temporary solution. Adolescents may even flaunt their self-injury, especially if they are using self-injury as a way to upset their parents or other authority figures.

In any case, self-injury can contribute to a life filled with chaos and distress. Even though it is not the same thing as a suicide attempt, it can still pose the risk of a serious, debilitating injury, disfigurement or even death.

If you have a loved one who has exhibited any of the above signs, they may be involved in self-injury, especially if they have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder.

About the Author

David Oliver is the founder of BorderlineCentral.com a one stop source of information on how to cope and deal with borderline personality disorder.

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