Last Updated:
January 14th, 2025
Self-Harm and Addiction | Symptoms and Treatment Options
Self-harm is often a hidden struggle, a silent cry for relief from overwhelming emotions that feel impossible to express. For some, drugs or alcohol can be a way to dull the pain or intensify the sensations in an attempt to regain control. But instead of providing a true escape, this dangerous combination can pull you further into a cycle of self-harm and addiction. At Recovery Lighthouse, we understand the deep connection between self-harm and addiction and offer a compassionate, safe space where healing can begin. With the right support, you can break free from both and rediscover a life worth living.
What is self-harm?
Self-harm is a deeply personal and often misunderstood response to personal troubles. It involves intentionally causing physical harm to yourself, such as by cutting, burning or scratching yourself. Self-harm is often a way to cope with feelings that seem too intense to bear, and it is usually rooted in trauma, mental health struggles or feelings of being lost in your own mind.
What causes self-harm?
While self-harm is mostly a physical act, it is important to understand that the underlying reasons are often deep-seated emotional and mental health struggles. Here are some of the main reasons why people may resort to self-harm:
Finding release
For some people, the physical pain of self-harm distracts from emotional pain, offering a brief moment of escape from feelings that are too heavy to cope with. It is a very desperate response to emotional struggles which require professional treatment to resolve.
Self-punishment
Deep feelings of guilt or self-loathing can drive people to use self-harm as a way to punish themselves, turning their inner pain outward. This is often seen with people who have gone through a traumatic experience like abuse.
Reclaiming control
When everything else in life feels chaotic, self-harm can seem like the one thing they have power over, providing a false sense of stability. It can be a response to issues like addiction, relationship breakups or mental health issues.
A cry for help
Self-harm can be a way to communicate distress, silently saying, “I’m struggling,” to those who may not otherwise see their pain. It is important to look out for this in people who you know to have personal struggles but who often find it hard to speak about them.
Feeling something real
For those trapped in emotional numbness, self-harm can be a way to feel alive, even if it’s through pain. It can be a symptom of PTSD, which can leave you unable to enjoy anything in life.
While self-harm might seem like a solution at the moment, it often creates deeper emotional scars, adding to the struggles that led to it.
