Self Injury

Self injury is the general term used to describe self-inflicted pain or injury on oneself. Most commonly this is in the form of cutting or burning, but there are many other forms of self-injury. Self-injury is often linked to depression, and is - simply expressed - a coping mechanism.

For many people, self-injury is not a widely recognized habit. This can make it extremely difficult to find the support and help that is so essential for self-injurers.

We have worked with many students who hurt themselves and have assisted them in how to cope with this behavior. The following statements come from some of the issues with which those students have dealt.

1	I have difficulty expressing myself when I feel angry or sad.	True	False
2	I sometimes find myself so desperate or overwhelmed that I have to do something to hurt myself otherwise I feel like I will go crazy.	True	False
3	When I hurt myself, I find that it releases the pain I am feeling inside.	True	False
4	Hurting temporarily relives the unbearable jumble of feeling inside of me.	True	False
5	I hurt myself to feel something; otherwise I feel nothing.	True	False
6	I am not hurting myself to kill myself, but instead to cope with my feelings.	True	False
7	I do not cut myself to get attention but because I don't know what else to do.	True	False
8	I try to cut myself in places where others won't find out what I am doing.	True	False
9	I'm afraid if others find out I hurt myself, they will think I am crazy.	True	False
10	I sometimes feel embarrassed or ashamed after I hurt myself.	True	False
11	I want to tell someone what I am doing but I am afraid no one will understand.	True	False
12	I often feel hopeless and helpless about the future and how to deal with every day stress.	True	False
13	Sometimes I will stop eating in order to regain control over my feelings.	True	False
14	Hurting myself sometimes keeps me from remembering the bad things that I've experienced in the past.	True	False
15	There have been times that I've cut or hurt myself and have not remembered doing so.	True	False

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Psychological and Counseling Center | Vanderbilt University
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