Treatments for self-injury

One danger connected with self-injury is that it tends to become an addictive behavior, a habit that is difficult to break even when the individual wants to stop. As with other addictions, qualified professional help is almost always necessary. It is important to find a therapist who understands this behavior and is not upset or repulsed by it. Call your doctor or insurance company for a referral to a mental health professional who specializes in self-injury.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy may be used to help the person learn to recognize and address triggering feelings in healthier ways

• Because a history of abuse or incest may be at the core of an individual’s self-injuring behavior, therapies that address post-traumatic stress disorder such as EMDR may be helpful (see Helpguide’s article on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Hypnosis or other self-relaxation techniques are helpful in reducing the stress and tension that often precede injuring incidents (see Helpguide’s article on Yoga, meditation and other relaxation techniques)
• Group therapy may be helpful in decreasing the shame associated with self-harm, and help to support healthy expressions of emotions
• Family therapy may be useful, both in addressing any history of family stress related to the behavior, and also in helping other family members learn how to communicate more directly and non-judgmentally with each other
• In cases of moderate to severe depression or anxiety an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication may be used to reduce the impulsive urges to self-harm in response to stress, while other coping strategies are developed.
• In severe cases an in-patient hospitalization program with a multi-disciplinary team approach may be required

[From: Helpguide.Org]