Self injury awareness day is observed each year on March 1st to raise awareness about self-harm and self-injury.
Symptoms of self-injury may include:
- Scars, often in patterns.
- Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises, bite marks or other wounds.
- Excessive rubbing of an area to create a burn.
- Keeping sharp objects or other items used for self-injury on hand.
- Wearing long sleeves or long pants to hide self-injury, even in hot weather.
- Frequent reports of accidental injury.
- Difficulties in relationships with others.
- Behaviors and emotions that change quickly and are impulsive, intense and unexpected.
- Talk of helplessness, hopelessness or worthlessness.
Treatment for self-injury may include psychotherapy, dialectical behavior therapy, post-traumatic stress therapies, group therapy, family therapy, hypnosis and other self-relaxation techniques, medications as prescribed by physician.