10 year anniversary badge

Self-Harm

Plus signs

The urge to self-harm is not uncommon, especially in adolescents and teenagers. Once self-injury, including cutting and self-mutilation, begins, intervention is needed to prevent a pattern of ongoing self-harm behaviors from becoming normalized. Although self-injury is more common in women, self-harm scars can be seen on men as well.

What Is Self-Harm?

Self-harm or self-injury is when a person hurts themselves on purpose, usually as a sign of emotional distress. In many cases, self-harm triggers include psychological pain from past trauma. Thus, self-mutilation is often an attempt to relieve psychic hurt by replacing it with physical pain. Self-harming behaviors can be associated with borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cutting that leads to self-harm scars is the most common type of self-injury. However, teens may commit other forms of self-harm. For example, they may feel an impulse to burn their skin, pull out their hair (trichotillomania), or pick at open wounds to prevent healing.

Rather than being defined as a mental illness, self-harm is a maladaptive behavior resulting from a lack of healthy coping skills. Therefore, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other therapeutic approaches can address the underlying causes of self-mutilation. Consequently, teens gain recovery tools to overcome self-harm triggers.

Sources: National Alliance on Mental Illness, MedlinePlus

It's Time to Make a Change

We Can Help You on Your Path to Mental Wellness

Call Today (888) 594-8699

Blog

Read More
ritalin

Can Ritalin Cause Anxiety, Panic Attacks, or Aggression in Teens?

August 4, 2026

Yes. Ritalin (methylphenidate) can increase anxiety, nervousness, or emotional tension in some teens, although many experience no anxiety at all and some become less anxious because better-controlled ADHD symptoms reduce everyday stress.[1][2] Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a central nervous system stimulant