Self-Help Info & Resources Common Questions About Self-Harm Why Does it Happen? Why does it happen? Download our Reasons for Self Injury self-help resource Self-injury can be a way of handling difficult emotions such as sadness, self-hate, anger, detachment or anxiety. It can also occur at times when emotions become overwhelming or memories become very disturbing. The act of self-injuring can act as a release for these feelings leading to a feeling of calm and control, but also may be accompanied by further feelings of self-hate or guilt. The behaviour can have an addictive quality and those who self-injure may be doing so on a regular basis. The whole process is complex, will vary from individual to individual and can be very hard to explain to others. Reasons for Self-Injury There are multiple reasons for self-injury, such as: Dealing with high (change to intense) emotional pain and making it more bearable. Expressing pent-up feelings such as anger and self-hatred. Making yourself feel alive and present in the moment. Preventing your suicidal thoughts from becoming overpowering. Giving into urges due to stressful and high intense negative situations (e.g. difficulties at home). Feeling like you have no other option. In response to intrusive thoughts or voices All of these reasons are completely valid in their own right and you might have other reasons. Understanding why you self-harm can help you feel more in control of it and how it helps you. This takes a lot of courage so be kind to yourself during this process - it will take time to uncover the ‘right’ answer for you. Try answering these questions to explore your journey with your self-harm When did I first start harming myself? What was going on in my life at that time? How did self-harm help me to cope or survive in the past? What might I find difficult, frightening or overwhelming without self-harm? How do I feel after I hurt myself? How does self-harm help me to cope or survive now? How do I feel before I hurt myself? What situations in my life can I list that make me want to self-harm? What might I find easier without self-harm, and what would I feel happier about? What feelings might I be expressing or avoiding through self-harm? If you are self-harming and would like to think more about why you self-injure try visiting the 'Why do I self-harm?' page. If you you are worried about someone you know who is self-harming try visiting the 'Supporting someone who self-injures' page. Manage Cookie Preferences