Understanding Self-Injury: Recognizing Self-Injury Awareness Day
Self-Injury Awareness Day has been on March 1st every year since 2002. SIAD is an international event that is recognized in countries all across the world in order to bring awareness to self-injury and emphasize the importance of helping those struggling with this condition. As a luxury drug and alcohol rehab in Palm Beach, we understand that this annual event advocates the importance of mental health treatment and encourages those struggling with this form of behavior to ask for help.
What Is Self-Harm?
Self-harm or self-injury refers to the act of deliberately cutting, burning, or injuring oneself. Despite what many think, self-harm is rarely done with the intention of suicide. Many people use self-harm as a way to cope with negative thoughts, emotions, or situations. Self-injury is linked to mental illness and other health conditions that may cause uncomfortable or disturbing symptoms. People who engage in self-harm experience momentary relief from whatever drove their behavior. Unfortunately, relying on self-harm as a coping mechanism increases the individual’s likelihood of causing themselves life-threatening harm and even suicide.
Signs of Self-Harm
Because self-injury is usually used as a coping mechanism and not a form of suicide, it’s often done in ways that can be hidden from others. This can make it difficult to spot self-harm in a loved one. Some signs of self-harm include:
- Scars on the forearms and legs, usually in patterns
- Fresh cuts, bite marks, bruises, or other injuries
- Wearing concealing clothes like long sleeves or pants, regardless of the weather
- Difficulties managing relationships with others
- Mood swings
- Unstable behavior
- Frequent statements of self-doubt, hopelessness, or emptiness
People who engage in self-harm often struggle with mental illness. In addition to self-injury, these individuals often rely on substance abuse to cope with their symptoms. Not only is addiction a possible repercussion, but people who develop a dependency on drugs or alcohol run the risk of health complications, worsening symptoms of mental illness, and overdose. At Seaside Palm Beach, we offer mental health treatment that addresses different mental disorders. Behaviors like self-harming and other facets of mental illness are targeted in our treatment in order to help patients live healthy and happy lives.
Observing National Self-Injury Awareness Day 2021 and How It Can Help
If you’ve made it to this point, then you’re on the right track towards participating in Self-Injury Awareness Day. The purpose of SIAD is to spread awareness about self-harm and the importance of helping those who are struggling with this behavior. There are several ways you can actively participate in self-harm awareness day:
- Attend or hold an event in your town
- Help remove the stigma surrounding mental illness by educating yourself on the topic
- Wear orange to show support
- Talk about self-injury awareness day with others; they may have never heard about it
- Suggest mental health therapy
People who suffer from mental illness or related behaviors like self-harm often turn to substance abuse as a way to cope. This is a dangerous habit to form and often results in addiction, overdose, and sometimes death. By spreading awareness, you can show people who are self-harming or battling a mental illness that help is available. Finding happiness in recovery is possible with the right kind of support. If you or a loved one has an addiction or mental illness, we can help. Call our Florida rehab center today at 561-677-9374 for more information about our luxury addiction programs and mental health services. Related Reading: 10 Things to Do After Rehab Finding Purpose in Your Recovery
