What damage does self harm do?!


Question: What damage does self harm do!?
I had asked this question before but got rude answers so thought i would ask again in this section!. What damage does causing bruising on yourself do!? please don't say the obvious - a bruise but i mean does it cause any internal damage!? I am asking for my friend, he causes bruising to his arm and i want to get the fact to scare him into stoppingWww@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Hi

Sorry that others have given rude answers before, this is a serious question about a serious issue!. Hopefully you can ignore any negative answers you get and take help from those of us who are genuinely trying to be helpful!.

Please try these links to the Mind website

Self harm: A guide for young people:
http://www!.mind!.org!.uk/Information/Bookl!.!.!.

Understanding self harm:
http://www!.mind!.org!.uk/Information/Bookl!.!.!.

the information is easy to read and understand!.

Hopefully it will give you some idea of why your friend is doing this to himself!. Self harm can take many forms it doesn't have to be someone cutting themselves!.

Unfortunately I doubt that it will be as simple as saying something that will scare your friend to make him stop doing this!. Self harm is usually a good indicator that people are trying to deal with inner turmoil and torment and they find that self harm can be a kind of release for them!.

It would be helpful if you could read the information I have given and then try to encourage him to seek help from his GP!. He won't be judged, it may help if you offer to give him support, he needs help and treatment!.

Hope this is helpful!.

Take care and good luck to both of you!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

A bruise is the mark left on the surface of the skin by broken blood vessels just beneath the skin and is unlikely, in itself, to cause any serious problems!. Although I can't be sure about long term effects of bruising in the same place, I understand that it can lead to blood clots which do not remain in the bruise, they travel around the body!. Blood clots can get stuck in many places most of which result in severe disability or death!.

It's easy to bruise yourself but you must want to feel pain to do it!.

Usually people harm themselves because they're angry with or hate them self!. Occasionally it's a means of expressing anger and frustration at others, but this is rare!.

The biggest problem is when bruising no longer helps your friend, this will lead to other, worse, forms of self-harming!.

Your friend needs to ask for help as soon as possible!. However, don't try and force the issue, it won't help!. Ask him to go for help, remind him there are people who care for him like yourself!. Show you care by listening to him, but mostly by respecting his decisions, it's his life, and supporting him!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

its really an individual thing, and can occur through many many avenues; theres self harm in the way of cutting, through an eating disorder, through sexual abuse/prostitution, alcoholic or drug abuse, through breaking bones!.!.!. it spans wider then you think!.

Basicly from what I understand from me and from other people who self harm in various ways, is that they do it to basicly escape some sort of emotional pain!.

It could be a memory, a fear, an experience, how they percieve the world, what they want or need not being met/possible, control!.!.!. it varies it really does!.

I would recommend makeing sure your friend is getting help, from professioanls and also support from groups or a psychaitric nurse etc!. But this is his choice, if he wants help, its there, if he doenst, it wont work, he has to want help and to want things to be different!. Best first step is the doctor!.

He will need your help too; you 'just' being there, listening to him, giveing him a shoulder to cry on, not telling him what to do, but rooting for him to stop/be happy, will count for more then you think!.

Dont try to scare him into anything, the fact is, self harm is there to help the sufferer deal with harsh and painful feelings, so if you try to scare him, he is going to experience other painful or scary thoughts, and he will likely deal with them in the exact same way as he deals with all the other thoughts- unless he develops his self harm into another form of self harm (eg swinging from cutting to alcohol abuse)!. Be very cautious with this!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Self harm is both physically and mentally damaging!. What may now be bruising could turn to cutting,therefore your friend needs someone to help him recognise why he is doing this, then help him accordingly!. IF he carries on bruising himself over and over again in the same places, he may well end up rupturing his blood cells and cause thrombosis/clotting of the blood vessels!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

I'm not sure about bruising but if he hits hard enough, it may bruise or even break a bone!.

As well, this may lead to other things, such as cutting or headbanging!.!.etc!.

For me, I started out just scratching myself with my fingernail, but now I can't go a day without cutting myself with a razor!.

Its a really slippery slope that your friend is on right now, and he needs to speak to someone about what's causing what he's doing!. If your friend doesn't want to stop, nothing you can do will stop him!.

I would suggest other ways to take out his frustrations/pain!.!.!.
like sports (boxing, running)
art, music!.!.!.any hobby is helpful!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

i suppose if you keep brusing in the same place it can cause musclar problems with blood being there all the time and you can get internal bleeding that won't stop try to get him to take his frustration out another way like boxing or swimming or somthing with some kind of positive aggrestion in it same as punchin a pillowWww@Answer-Health@Com

Cutting: If you cut too deep which is quarter/ half an inch in!. you can damage the nerves which you use everyday!.
A friend of mine how was an amazing guitarist!. Was on the road to becoming famous!. One night he punched through a window in anger!. Now he can't play his guitar due to irrevesible nerve damage!. he's just another "i could have been famous" person with dreams in the gutter and no where to go!.

Hitting: I used to hit things in temper or when i was upset!.
damage!? i can't feel anything in three knuckles on my right hand!Www@Answer-Health@Com

Self harm is an excuse to not get treated!. And it's like asking a question on YAHOO!ANSWERS, since you'll only get points reduced!. Same with self harm, their not getting healed for their depression, and worst, their hurting themselves which can lead to maybe cutting a vein, dosing to death, etc!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

it lowers ur self esteem cuz u must feel pretty low about urself to wanan "damage" urself!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

It harms the self!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

I would think it could cause a blood clot!. He really needs to get help for this problem!.!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

its just blood under the skin!.

so not much!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





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