Why People Do It: There is no one reason why people self-mutilate. Often, it is a combination of many different reasons. For most self-injurers, the process of self-mutilation is a way of releasing stress and tension and bad feelings. Self-harm can be used to take away a feeling of numbness, to express feelings that cannot be expressed otherwise, or as a form of punishment. Sometimes self-injury is used to make psychic pain more tangible.
Who Self-Injures: According to some reports, self-injury has taken on the epidemic-like status of anorexia and bulimia. Studies show that approximately one out of every 200 girls between the ages of 13 and 19 practices self-mutilation regularly. Girls tend to be more prone to self-injurious behaviors but an estimated 11,000 American boys are also affected each year. While only 1% of the general American population uses self-injurious practices to cope with extreme emotions, that number increases drastically among adolescents and females.
Self-Injury and Abuse: Nearly 50% of self-injurers have been sexually or physically abused at some point in time.
Eating Disorders and Self-Injury: A large portion of self-mutilating women have also struggled with eating disorders; anorexia, bulimia or both.
