When and how to ask for help when self-harming behaviors occur?
A first step to stop self-harm is to tell someone close to you . People who self-harm may experience fear, shame, or frustration, so it's advisable to seek out someone you trust. However, the person listening may feel anger, annoyance, or confusion, but it's important that they are aware of the emotions at that moment, because the person asking for help needs to receive a message of support, without judgment. Under no circumstances should they receive threats or accusations (for example, "if you love me, you have to stop self-harming") and they need to know they are not alone.
Sometimes, self-harm can occur in educational settings . For many young people, this behavior is often kept secret, making it very difficult to talk about. When they do talk about it, it's usually with a classmate rather than an adult. This can cause discomfort and concern among other classmates, who may feel unsure about how to help. Therefore, it's advisable for schools to have a response protocol that details how to act in cases of self-harm, both individually and in groups.
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION AND TREATMENT
Furthermore, it is advisable to consult with a professional when:
- Self-harm is frequent (more than five times in the last year).
- There is significant and persistent emotional distress.
- The method is potentially dangerous (like cutting yourself).
- There is a high sensitivity to social rejection.
- The person has tried unsuccessfully to stop self-harming.
In these cases, it can be helpful to speak with the designated healthcare professional at the primary care center or with a mental health professional, such as a clinical psychologist. Currently, there are effective treatments available for self-harm, which are usually administered on an outpatient basis, allowing the individual to continue with their daily routines.
In this sense, psychotherapy can help to :
- Identify and address the problems that may underlie self-harming behavior.
- Learn strategies to better control anxiety and other unpleasant emotions.
- Learning to regulate emotions and better tolerate negative emotions.
- Develop skills to improve in the area of social relationships.
- Learn strategies to solve problems more effectively.
- Develop a more favorable and realistic image of oneself.
How can you avoid self-harm?
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES
The therapeutic modalities that have shown the greatest effectiveness in addressing these objectives are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps to identify maladaptive beliefs (thoughts) and behaviors that do not help to achieve the person's goals or that are harmful to their physical and mental health, and replace them with healthier ones, or make them more flexible so that they no longer have a negative impact on the person's balance.
- Mindfulness -based therapies: These are techniques that help you live in the present, perceiving and accepting current mental states, thereby improving overall well-being and potentially reducing levels of anxiety and depression.
- Problem-solving therapy: This therapy is aimed at training in constructive strategies for solving practical or interpersonal problems, or for managing difficulties in the most adaptive way possible, in order to improve the person's functioning and quality of life.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): This is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that was initially developed to treat individuals with suicidal behavior and borderline personality disorder, but is now applied and effective for other problems such as anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. The term "dialectic" refers to the opposing forces in a person's development, with the forces of change and acceptance being particularly relevant. Therefore, it promotes change in areas for improvement, but also the acceptance of the person's functional and adaptive aspects. This type of therapy is standardized, with phases and modules, and has specific components for managing self-harm.
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