Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffWhile you generally shouldn't try to treat self-injury on your own, you can do some things for yourself that will build on your treatment plan. In addition to professional treatment, follow these self-care tips for self-injury:
- Stick to your treatment plan, including attending psychotherapy appointments and taking prescribed medications as directed.
- Fully disclose incidents of self-injury to your doctor.
- Care properly for your wounds when you do injure yourself, such as seeking medical treatment when necessary and following appropriate first-aid guidelines.
- Don't share instruments used for self-injury, which raises the risk of infectious disease.
References
- Wedig MM, et al. Parental expressed emotion and adolescent self-injury. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2007;46:1171.
- Hewlett WA. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. In: Ebert MH, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Psychiatry. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3286970. Accessed May 3, 2010.
- Lloyd-Richardson EE, et al. Characteristics and functions of non-suicidal self-injury in a community sample of adolescents. Psychological Medicine. 2007;37:1183.
- Martiniuk ALC, et al. Self-harm and risk of motor vehicle crashes among young drivers: findings from the DRIVE Study. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2009;181:807.
- Klonsky ED. The functions of deliberate self-injury: A review of the evidence. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session. 2007;27:226.
- Nock MK, et al. Non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: Diagnostic correlates and relation to suicide attempts. Psychiatry Research. 2006;144:65.
- Factsheet: Self-injury - Warning signs. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=C7DF983B-1372-4D20-C800C76DEFCBAE2F. Accessed May 3, 2010.
- Hasking PA. Brief report: Emotion regulation and coping as moderators in the relationship between personality and self-injury. Journal of Adolescence. In press. Accessed May 3, 2010.
- Suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec19/ch300/ch300h.html. Accessed May 3, 2010.
- Klonsky ED, et al. Self-Injury: A Research Review for the Practitioner. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session. 2007;63:1045.
- Claes L, et al. Brief report: The association between non-suicidal self-injury, self-concept and acquaintance with self-injurious peers in a sample of adolescents. Journal of Adolescence. In press. Accessed May 3, 2010.
- Factsheet: Self-injury. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/self-injury. Accessed May 3, 2010.

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