Is Self-Harm an Addiction?
The debate, “Is self-harm an addiction or not,” has been going on for many years. Some people argue that it is strictly a result of underlying issues of mental illness or addiction, and others argue that it is a behavioral addiction. The reality of the matter is that self-harm addiction is not black and white, but rather complex.
What Is Self-Harm?
Self-harm refers to the intentional harm of one’s body. This may be in the form of cutting (the most common), burning, or hitting.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Self-harm refers to when a person hurts their own body on purpose… A person who self-harms usually does not mean to kill themselves, but they are at higher risk of attempting suicide and dying by suicide if they do not get help.” Also, “For many people, self-harm gives them a sense of relief and is used as a means to cope with a problem.” Yet, for others, self-harm may be a compulsion or addiction.
Signs and Symptoms of Self-Harm
Whether self-harm is an addiction or a result of underlying issues, the signs and symptoms are generally the same. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Covering up one’s body that seems out of the ordinary (wearing long sleeves in the summertime for example)
- Isolating away from friends and family
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Acting anxious, nervous, or stressed out
- Appearing sad, lonely, and depressed
- Expressing negative feelings about oneself
- Excessively using alcohol and substances as coping mechanisms
- Having suicidal ideations
Is Self-Harm an Addiction?
Some researchers argue that self-harm is a result of emotional instability. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Psychiatry Research, “Early research regarded NSSI as a symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder; consistent with this perspective, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual classifies NSSI as a symptom of BPD… More recently, researchers have argued that converging evidence supports conceptualizing NSSI as a disorder of emotion dysregulation. In addition to the conceptualizations described above, NSSI has also been viewed as an addictive behavior.”
The reason self-harm is argued to be an addiction is because many people claim to feel relief after. This is similar to the relief that people addicted to alcohol and/or substances express when they drink or use. It is also similar to the relief that people who engage in behavioral addictions (like gambling and online addiction) feel.
Is Self-Harm an Addiction? Some Means, Methods, and Modalities for Treating Self-Harm
While the reasons for self-harm may differ, the ways to treat it are generally the same. They usually involve some type of psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral addiction (CBT). CBT can be particularly effective because it can help get to the underlying issues of self-harm, bringing them to the surface so they can be addressed. This is why CBT can be so effective in treating both issues of mental illness and addiction.
People struggling with self-harm can also greatly benefit from holistic healing methods. Meditation for example offers many benefits that can help someone recover from self-harm. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.”
People struggling with self-harm can benefit by working with other people who also struggle with self-harm. This may happen in group therapy or it may happen within a recovery community that focuses specifically on self-harm (there are 12-Step self-harm recovery groups, for example). Connecting with other people in recovery can also be vital in helping people avoid a self-harm relapse because it creates a healthy network on which people can rely if they are feeling “triggered.” As Buddha said, “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
The Phoenix Difference at The Phoenix Recovery Center
So, “Is self-harm an addiction?” What is known is that people who struggle with self-harm need help to get out from under this dangerous and damaging behavior.
The iconic American author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” That is what we aim to do here at The Phoenix Recovery Center. We are here to show people struggling with self-harm the strength they have inside; the strength that has never left them. It just needs some help showing back up. We can be that help. There is a solution. Recovery can be right around the corner.
“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
For some individuals, self-harm is a result of anxiety, depression, or other types of mental illness. Yet, for others, self-harm may be a behavioral addiction. The good news is that regardless of the underlying causes, there are recovery options that can help eliminate self-harm. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of self-harm related to mental illness or addiction, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery, right away. For more information on what self-harm as an addiction looks like and how it can best be treated, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
