Situation · Yourself
“I hurt myself when I'm upset”
What could be going on
Warning signs of suicide risk and self-harm: Self-harm is a warning sign; talk to someone now and check for suicidal thoughts.
Emotional dysregulation: Using pain to cut off overwhelming feelings fits; check how fast feelings rise.
Complex PTSD: Fits if there was long, inescapable trauma; check for shame and relationship trouble.
Shame: Self-harm can punish a self felt as bad; check what you think just before.
Alexithymia: Fits if feelings can't be named, only discharged through the body.
Borderline personality: Only if self-harm sits with unstable relationships, mood and self-image.
Questions to carry
- Who is one person I could tell about hurting myself, someone I feel safe with?
- Right before I hurt myself, what do I notice in my body, and what could keep me safer then?
Also said as
- I cut myself
- I hit myself when I'm angry
- my daughter is self-harming
- I scratch myself till it bleeds
- hurting myself is the only thing that helps
- I self-harm