Physical scars can be result of emotional turmoil

March 22, 2012 - PRLog -- If you have physical scars what do they mean to you? Perhaps they are a reminder of a childhood fall or accident, or maybe they are an imprint from surgery.

For people who self-harm scars signify long-term pain and suffering; the wounds self-inflicted as a result of emotional turmoil out of their control.  

People who self-harm may feel that this is a way to cope with problems that seem to have no solution or are dramatically life-changing and cause them to feel depressed.  Episodes of harming maybe triggered by events such as parents getting a divorce, death of a friend or family member, bullying, pressure from exams or parents, low self-esteem and trying to live up to other people’s standards.

Cutting and wounding the skin is often associated with self-harm but there are other methods which are not so obvious such as burning, pulling out hair and poisoning.

Asked why they do it, self-harmers often admit to feeling a release of emotion when experience pain or seeing blood and feel a sense of control over their problems.  However this is a vicious circle as pain only lasts so long, which goes on to explain why people act to continually hurt themselves.

This behaviour is most common in young people aged between 11 – 25 years old and is mostly carried out in secret, with harmers doing everything they can to cover up their harmful activities.  Signs to watch out if you think someone you know if self-harming includes: type of clothing – if there is a refusal to wear short sleeved tops, skirts or shorts or tendency to cover up, bald patches from hair pulling and regular bouts of vomiting with no known causes.

People who purposefully harm themselves need help to stop, it sometimes help to write feelings down to get them out of the system in a safe method or distracting the mind by listening to music or exercising.  It is also very beneficial to seek help from health professionals who can offer support to break the self-harm cycle, and also confiding in trusted friends or family.  

There is a wealth of information on self-harming available on the internet and health services available locally, with support spanning the country from Clacton-on-Sea to Cardiff and Lands-End to John O’Groats.

Visit : http://www.essexhealth.co.uk

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