Dispelling Myths and Stereotypes

Self-injury is a failed suicide attempt.

False. Self-injury is often a way to continue living and cope with whatever is going on in their life without having to attempt suicide. This does not mean that all cuts to the wrist are not suicide attempts, but most people who self-injure know exactly how deep they can cut before they risk dying.

There is a risk that self-injury may also result in an unintentional suicide by accident. Also, this does not mean that self-injury never triggers feelings of suicide and many self-abusers feel very suicidal at times and may have made attempt in the past. Just because it is not a form of suicide doesn’t make it any less serious or less dangerous a choice.

Self-injury is “attention seeking” behavior.

False. OK, now think about this one, aren’t there better ways to get attention? One could dye their hair blue or walk around naked! Self-injury is a coping strategy and usually one that involves covering it up, not showing it off. Self-injury is a sign of distress.

Self-injury is untreatable. It’s hopeless.

False. The problem is that many people, even professionals, don’t understand self-injury and it seems so foreign to their way of thinking that they can’t think of anyway to help. The key is to look at why not how.

There are services available for treating self-injury. You may need to look around to find someone who understands but they are out there. Other places might include crisis centers, sexual abuse treatment centers, children’s mental health centers or women’s centers.

It’s Borderline Personality Disorder or they’re “Borderline”.

False. Self-injury is not sufficient for a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder which requires five of nine criteria, of which self-injury is only one symptom. Again, this label is an easy way for some professionals to describe what they don’t understand. Self-injury is a coping strategy not a diagnosis.

The belief that it is the parents or friend’s fault. They made them do it.

False. Self-injury is not someone else’s fault. To self-abuse or not is a choice and choice is a personal responsibility, therefore ending abuse is a personal responsibility. People in the individual's life may trigger them but there are still choices on what to do with those feelings.

Misconceptions
It's not self-injury if the primary purpose is:

• sexual pleasure
• body decoration
• spiritual enlightenment via ritual
• fitting in or being cool

SIB and Prejudices

“In emergency rooms, people with self-inflicted wounds are often told directly and indirectly, that they are not as deserving of care as someone who has an accidental injury."

“Unfortunately, the most popular diagnosis assigned to anyone who self-injures is borderline personality disorder. Patients with this diagnosis are frequently treated as outcasts and troublemakers by psychiatrists.” Do SIB clients get the “right” treatment?

“Given that the DSM-IV refers to personality disorders as longstanding patterns of behavior usually beginning in early adulthood, one wonders what justification is used for giving a 14-year-old a negative psychiatric label that will stay with her all of her life.”

Must clients have a label, a diagnosis? Yes, they must if insurance is going to cover it. Do diagnosticians feel pressured to pigeonhole clients? This is what they are taught.

Sources:
Secret Shame
Self-Injury: Beyond the Myths
Myths About Self Injury