3 Treatments for Self Harm

People deal with mental health issues in many different ways. But one of the most troubling is self-harm. Self-harm refers to the act of deliberately harming oneself. It's usually a response to emotional pain or a byproduct of mental health conditions. Compassionate support for healing awaits. Explore this website for specialized counseling for self harm recovery.

Self-harm takes many forms, taking extreme steps to hide the behavior from those around them. Counseling for self harm can make a difference, identifying the root cause of the behavior and helping people find other ways to cope with their mental health struggles. Here are a few common treatments for self-harm.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

One of the most common approaches to addressing self-harm is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is about identifying negative and unhealthy thought patterns and replacing them with more positive emotions. It's about changing a person's perspective and empowering them with new techniques to manage their mental health.

CBT takes time, and there are many unique approaches to this form of therapy. Working with a professional and getting counseling for self harm is the first step in recovery. Therapists can teach people how to redirect their negative emotions into healthier behaviors. Counseling also teaches new skills to improve self-esteem, strengthen relationships and find ways to cope with stress that don't cause harm to oneself or others.

Medications

Some mental health care providers may recommend medications. This approach is common if self-harm is a byproduct of underlying or coexisting mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. In many cases, taking prescribed drugs can dramatically improve one’s mood.

They help address the root cause of the behavior, eliminating or addressing the need to self-harm. Typically, a pharmaceutical approach coincides with cognitive behavior therapy and other treatments.

Mindfulness Therapy

In addition to CBT, care providers often teach people who self-harm to practice mindfulness in their everyday lives. Mindfullness-based therapies are about self-reflection and de-stressing.

There are many ways to practice mindfulness. You can journal, do breathing exercises or channel negative emotions into a creative outlet. Whatever the case, the goal is to use mindfulness therapies to find peace and avoid the urge to self-harm.

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