Misconception
1: Self-Harm is Attention Seeking.
One of the most persistent myths
around those who engage with self-harm is that it is done solely for the
purpose of gaining their peer's attention. Stephen P. Lewis, et al. states in They Just Don’t Get It: A Qualitative Study on Perceptions
of Anticipated Self-Injury Stigma across Generations, page 1, “Overall, our
results indicate that all age-groups asked about are believed to harbour
stigmatising views (e.g., NSSI is selfish and attention-seeking, people who
self-injure are weak and crazy). Perceptions regarding the prominence of these
beliefs, however, varied across age-groups.” When truly this act is often done
in private, never meant for the eyes of others. Those who suffer often go
through great lengths to cover up and conceal their injuries. Researchers
suggest that NSSI is actually a coping mechanism used to manage emotional
distress rather than it being a plea for external validation (Lewis, Stephen P., et al.).
In an Article by Remi Larson, Self-Harm
Myths & Misconceptions, it is stated, "There is a stigma
attached to NSSI, so people do their best to hide it. Even if someone is
engaging in self-harm with the hope that someone will notice, this is in an effort
to form an emotional connection that conveys the struggle that the individual is going
through. It is a search for support, not attention." Another point
to take into consideration. Some may reach out and ask for help after
self-harming, and others may reach out in other ways; This does not invalidate their struggles and distress.
Misconception
2: Self-Harm is an attempt on one’s life
Despite Self-harm and suicide
ideations having links, they are not the same. Many who engage in NSSI do not
have suicidal intentions, but rather they self-harm as a way to regulate
overwhelming emotions (Banerjee, Debanjan, and Saha Meheli.). A similar thing was
stated by
Nicole in her work, "Non-suicidal
self-injury (NSSI) is purposefully harming oneself without suicidal intent.
Instead, the intention of NSSI is related to short-term coping for the
individual, such as a release of tension." The distinction between the two
is crucial to ensure that those that do NSSI get the appropriate intervention
tailored to their needs.
Misconception
3: Only teens Self-harm
Self-harm is often and mistakenly
associated with adolescents. Individuals across various age groups struggle
with NSSI. While the prevailing rates are higher in teenagers due to
developmental and social stressors, adults also can experience self-harm (Lloyd-Richardson,
et al.). A failure to acknowledge this will lead to inadequate resources for
the older populus who need support.
Misconception
4: It’s just a trend
Some believe that self-harm results from peer influence or social trends. This idea was brought up
particularly with the rise of mental health discussions on social media. While
this exposure to self-harming behaviors can have an impact, NSSI is rarely a
product of mere imitation. It's often a deeply personal and distress-driven behavior. Dismissing individuals' self-harm as a “trend” invalidates the pain
that drives those self-harming behaviors.
Misconception
5: Stopping just requires some Willpower
People often presume that stopping NSSI
is a simple matter of sheer determination. Yet, similarly to other maladaptive
coping mechanisms, self-harm can be highly addictive due to its impact on a person's pain and reward systems. Overcoming NSSI often requires the help of
professionals, alternative coping strategies, and a supportive environment.
NSSI:
A further dive into the inner workings
These self-harming behaviors trigger
a dopamine release. Which threw me off when I originally read that. This
Neurotransmitter is associated with pleasure and reward. This hormone also is
used in the reinforcement of behaviors. This creates a spiraling reinforcement
cycle where individuals self-harm and the mind reinforces the behavior.
The link between self-harm and the release
of dopamine comes from the body’s reaction when experiencing physical trauma. The
body will release endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller. The endorphins
will then bind to Opioid receptors located in the brain. As with its similar
structure to morphine, the binding to these receptors reduces pain and even
induces a sense of well-being. Normally used to allow for escaping danger even
while injured.
When used in NSSI, Endorphins are
released, which causes a sense of temporary ease and brings relief. This feeling
of serenity can be deeply powerful for those enduring intense emotional pain or
numbness, offering a physical sensation that provides temporary relief and
briefly suppresses their suffering (Team). As stated by Terri Apter in The Self-Harming Brain, “Relief floods them, and in the wake of pain,
they are happier, more content and satisfied. The primary motive for self-harm
is emotional regulation”.
This, when perceived by the brain,
seems like a very positive thing. Going from overwhelming emotional pain or
numbness, to something physical, then relief. To the brain, this is what is
wanted. And so, dopamine to reinforce the behavior is released. Posted by the
NeuroLunch editorial team that wrote Self-Harm and Dopamine: The
Neurochemical Connection, “The dopamine release associated with this relief
can serve as a powerful reinforcer, encouraging the repetition of the behavior
in future moments of distress.”
The cycle created is a messy one.
Over time, the body will build a resistance, as one does with most things they
take frequently. If you drink coffee often or alcohol, overtime you will need
to consume more to experience the same effects. This is no different in the
cycle of self-harm as an emotional regulator. Those who suffer from NSSI find
that more frequently and or severely these self-destructive acts must be
committed. This puts this person at a heightened risk for critical injury and
solidifies the behavior even further.
Engaging in NSSI also damages your ability to handle stressors or trauma healthy. Relief from NSSI is only temporary, and over time, individuals find it harder to regulate emotions in healthier ways. With the use of NSSI to dampen and relieve oneself, it is not just causing physical injuries. If you suffer, reach out to those you trust. I would also highly recommend going to therapy. It doesn’t work for some, but even if talking to them does not help, you can think of it as a personal trainer or a guide. Their job is to help you, and they are bound to have some kind of knowledge to help set you on the right path. They are trained and educated for these exact things. Give them a chance. You are not alone.
Citations
Apter, Terri. “The Self-Harming Brain.” Psychology
Today, 2020,
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/domestic-intelligence/202001/the-self-harming-brain.
Lewis, Stephen P., et al.
“They Just Don’t Get It: A Qualitative Study on Perceptions of Anticipated
Self-Injury Stigma across Generations.” BMC Psychiatry, vol.
25, no. 1, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Apr. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06718-2.
Nicole. “The
Harmful Myths about Non-Suicidal Self-Injury.” NAMI Dane County,
www.namidanecounty.org/blog/2021/5/20/the-harmful-myths-about-non-suicidal-self-injury.
Larson, Remi. “Self-Harm Myths & Misconceptions.” Active Minds, 1 Mar.
2018, www.activeminds.org/blog/self-harm-myths-misconceptions/.
Banerjee,
Debanjan, and Saha Meheli. “Revisiting Social Stigma in Non-Suicidal
Self-Injury: A Narrative Review.” Consortium Psychiatricum, vol. 3,
no. 3, Sept. 2022, pp. 6–19, https://doi.org/10.17816/cp196.
Lloyd-Richardson,
Elizabeth E., Imke Baetens, and Janis L. Whitlock (eds), The Oxford
Handbook of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Oxford Library of
Psychology (2024; online edn, Oxford Academic, 23 Feb.
2023), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197611272.001.0001, accessed 16 May 2025.
Team, NeuroLaunch
editorial. “Self-Harm and Dopamine: The Neurochemical Connection.” NeuroLaunch.com,
22 Aug. 2024, neurolaunch.com/does-self-harm-release-dopamine/.
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