Not all self-harm ‘looks’ like self-harm
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Because of what we see online and on TV, when we think about self-harm we often presume this means behaviours like cutting or burning. But self-harm is more complex than this and in some cases might not even ‘look’ life self-harm. All forms of self-harm are dangerous and that’s why we want you to recognise them. If you or someone you know is displaying harmful behaviour, we’re here to help.
Self-harm has many masks
If you ask people what they think of when you say self-harm, most will say physical forms like ‘cutting’, ‘burning’ or ‘poisoning’. This type of self-harm is common and accounts for lots of people. But for some people, their form of self-harm is less obvious. It’s often more emotional or psychological than physical and it might seem more like self-punishment than self-harm. Some examples of less obvious self-harm include:
- Deliberately binge-drinking or taking drugs to the point of being ill
- Overeating until you feel sick or are actually sick
- Over-exercising to the point ...
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