There are many names to refer to the act of inflicting harm to one's own body: self-injury, self-harm, cutting, self-abuse, or self-inflicted violence. These acts of self-injury are considered to be the “new age anorexia” and occurrences are on the rise. It is a way people cope with emotions that causes severe harm to the body. It effects men, women, teenagers, educated, uneducated, any class, any race. Many times it accompanies depression or eating disorders. Self-injury comes in the forms of:      *cutting      *burning      *biting      *hitting      *bruising      *head-banging      *branding      *picking skin/scabs Adolescents and adults resort to these actions as a way to handle overwhelming stress or emotions. It is a way to release the tension or the feelings. The self-inflicted pain acts as a distraction from the pain within. It brings temporary relief to the person who is suffering emotionally. It is a way to release anger or frustration. It can bring a sense of control over one's body. Although it is done in secret, it is also a way to express the hurt going on inside in hopes that someone will notice and help. If someone experiences a high level of stress or emotion, the self-injury coping mechanism kicks in. He/she recognizes the panicky, overwhelming feeling and wants to get rid of it quickly. Resorting to one of the self-injury forms provides an outlet or an escape. Biologically, endorphins are released due to the physical pain which helps to temporarily mask the emotional pain. Self-injurers are not psychotic and should not be treated as if they are. Self-injury is not a suicide attempt. It is actually a way for sufferers to survive. They merely use this as a coping mechanism but should receive therapy in order to learn to cope with emotions in a non-violent way. Medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs may be needed. More importantly, however, is to determine the reasons for self-injury which is discovered through intensive psychotherapy. Once the reasons are determined, new coping mechanisms can be learned. Positive Reflections provides various levels of coaching to achieve recovery for those who self-injure. The coaches are experienced with handling the issues, feelings, and concerns associated with self-injury. Coaching is a problem-solving approach to end the self-injurious behavior. Family coaching can be included in order to help parents of children who self-injure. Most importantly, the coaches are available for continued support throughout the recovery process.   Copyright © 2006, positivereflections-edt.com. All rights reserved.