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Causes of Self-injury
People self- injure for a variety of reasons. However it is commonly thought to provide a release for pent- up emotions and feelings. Frequently someone who self- injures reports feeling more connected and alive immediately after or during the event.
Although this is not always the case, there is also often an association with:
- sexual, physical and emotional abuse,
- low self-esteem or self-hatred,
- fear of rejection,
- feelings of guilt, anxiety, grief or anger,
- feelings of numbness or deadness and feelings of detachment from the world are often reported.
Self- injury is an indication of emotional distress and not an attention seeking exercise.
