Cutting, Self-Injury, and Self-Harm Therapy and Treatment Near Atlanta, Georgia

Statistics and Information on Cutting and Self-Harm in Georgia

While self-harm and cutting are more common among adolescents, 6% of adults report a history of self-harm. Non-suicidal self-injury can be a predictor of future suicide attempts – in 2021, 1,659 lives were lost in Georgia as a result of suicide. That is approximately 50,703 potential years of life lost overall.

Cutting and self-harm are often symptoms of other mental health issues. There has been evidence to suggest that there is a positive correlation between individuals who have disordered eating patterns and those who self-harm. The University of Georgia conducted a study of a subreddit dedicated to the topic of self-harm. They found that the language used points towards participants viewing cutting and other forms of self-injury as an addiction rather than a mental health issue.

Career Pressure

Pressure in your career can cause stress, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy, which can lead to attempts to cope by engaging in self-cutting or self-harming tendencies. While this may offer temporary relief from stress or pain, it can exacerbate the root cause of your distress. It’s important to seek help finding healthier strategies to manage work-related pressures.

Mental Health Disorders

Self-harming coping mechanisms are common symptoms of mental health disorders such as anxiety/mood disorders and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It’s difficult to manage mental health issues on top of life stressors, and forms of self-hurt are often used as methods of emotionally regulating. Therapy can help you address the self-harm symptoms as well as the root mental health disorder.

Identity and Self-image Issues

Self-image or identity issues commonly manifest in self-harming behavior. A negative self-image can lead to feelings of self-loathing, worthlessness, or a dysregulated sense of self. Self-abuse can be an attempt to cope or feel a sense of control. To create lasting changes, you’ll work with professionals to improve your self-esteem and build a stronger connection to your sense of self.

Trauma or Abuse

Self-damaging behavior can be a trauma response. Trauma leaves emotional scars, and you may turn to self-harm to cope with emotional distress, guilt, shame, or feeling out of control. While self-injury may provide temporary relief from past pain, it’s not permanent. Trauma treatment centers offer programs that help you build resilience, develop healthier coping strategies, and reconcile with your trauma.

Bullying or Harassment

Bullying or harassment can take an emotional toll and can cause attempts to cope with feelings of shame, helplessness, or embarrassment with self-damaging behavior. It can also be used as an attempt to feel some sense of control over your life or body. Healing involves developing a support network, addressing the root cause, and finding healthier ways to express yourself.

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is when you feel an expectation to conform to others’ standards, which can lead to self-injurious actions. The pressure to be accepted can be a powerful motivator, and self-harming patterns can develop when paired with inner struggles. Overcoming self-harm related to peer pressure can be achieved through emotional regulation, building self-confidence, and setting boundaries.

Emotional Distress

Self-inflicted harm often stems from intense emotional distress, causing you to use self-mutilation to try to manage negative feelings such as hopelessness or anxiety. Unfortunately, self-harm does not address underlying emotional issues and can do more harm in the long run. Seeking professional support can help you heal and learn to cope more constructively.

Relationship Difficulties

Relationship difficulties, such as breakups, conflict, or abuse, can lead to self-harming habits as people struggle to manage emotions such as rejection, anger, sadness, or fear. Self-harming habits are frequently used to attempt to regain a sense of control or manage emotional pain. To heal, you must address relationship issues, improve communication, and develop healthier emotion management methods.

How to Find a Cutting and Self-Harm Therapy Mental Health Treatment Center Near Me

We appreciate that seeking therapy for self-harming can be a daunting and sensitive topic, and we want to ensure that you receive the best care available for your unique needs. To help facilitate this, we have provided a guide to finding the best self-harm treatment options near you.

1. Online Search: Use search engines such as Google to look for medical treatment centers that specialize in treating adults with cutting and self-harm behaviors. You can use keywords like “adult self-harm therapy near me” or “cutting treatment center for adults near me.”
2. Referrals: Ask for recommendations from mental health professionals or your primary care doctor. They may be able to refer you to therapists or rehabilitation centers that specialize in treating self-harm or cutting in adults.
3. Insurance Provider: If you have health insurance, you can contact your insurance provider or check their website directory to learn about therapy treatment centers in your network specializing in self-harm.
4. Local Mental Health Organizations: Reach out to local mental health organizations in your area for recommendations. They may have resources for therapy treatment centers or therapists who specialize in treating self-harm and can point you in the right direction.
5. Online Reviews and Testimonials: Once you have identified potential therapy treatment centers or therapists, you can research online and read reviews from former and current patients. This can give you an idea of the quality of care provided and the experiences of others who have sought treatment for cutting or self-harm.
6. Contact and Consultation: Contact the therapy treatment centers or therapists you are interested in to inquire about their program offerings. Many therapy treatment centers offer free initial consultations or phone interviews so you can get a sense of what to expect.

Keeping Sharp Objects in Strange Places

If you’re hiding sharp objects in places or notice that a loved one has hidden them, this may be a sign of self-harm. Keeping sharp objects in odd places or keeping them hidden can be a way of ensuring the tool is readily accessible. If you notice this behavior, continue observing for other signs of self-harm and seek professional support.

Signs of Depression

Depression often goes hand-in-hand with self-harm, using self-abuse to try and manage overwhelming feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. Therefore, if you see signs of depression, such as mood swings, irritability, negative self-image, or spending a lot of time in solitude, these can be signs of depression.

Marks on the Body (Cuts, Scratches, Bruises, or Burns)

If you observe marks on the body, such as cuts, burns, bruises, or scratches, this could be an indicator that your loved one is producing self-inflicted wounds as a way of coping with intense emotions. Continue to note any other symptoms that may point towards self-injurious behavior.

Talking about Self-harm or Suicide

It may seem obvious, but engaging in conversation about self-harm or suicidal ideation is a sign that you or your loved one has developed self-harming habits. Speaking openly about it is likely a signal of distress and a plea for help. The best way to proceed from here is to speak with them calmly and non-judgmentally to understand their inner emotions.

Wearing Warm Clothes in Hot Weather to Hide Injuries

If someone you care about is wearing a sweatshirt in 90-degree weather or long pants at a swimming pool, it may be a sign that they are attempting to cover their self-harm scars or wounds. They may experience extreme embarrassment about their marks or injuries. It is best not to draw attention to it at that moment.