Nonsuicidal self-injury

[Lanell]

Nonsuicidal self-injury is a self-inflicted act that causes pain or superficial damage but is not intended to cause death.
Although the methods people use to hurt themselves, such as cutting their wrists with a razor blade, sometimes overlap with those of suicide attempts, nonsuicidal self-injury is different because people do not intend the acts to cause death. Often, people specifically state that they are not trying to kill themselves. In other cases, doctors presume people are not actually trying to die when they repeatedly do something that clearly cannot cause death—for example, burning themselves with cigarettes.
However, the first time people hurt themselves, it may not be clear whether they actually intended to die. For example, people may think that they could kill themselves by taking an overdose of antibiotics or vitamins, take such dose, and then realize that such a dose is harmless.
Even when self-injury does not cause death, people who injure themselves are probably more likely over the long term to attempt or commit suicide. Thus, doctors and family members should not lightly dismiss nonsuicidal self-injury.
The most common examples of nonsuicidal self-injury include

Cutting or stabbing the skin with a sharp object, such as a knife, razor blade, or needle
Burning the skin, typically with a cigarette

Nonsuicidal self-injury tends to start during early adolescence. It is more common among people who have other disorders, particularly borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, an eating disorder, or substance use disorders (including alcohol abuse), and autism. Nonsuicidal self-injury is only slightly more common among girls than boys, whereas suicidal behavior is much more common among girls than boys. Most people stop hurting themselves when they get older.
People often injure themselves repeatedly in a single session, creating several cuts or burns in the same location. Usually, people choose an area that is at once accessible and easily hidden by clothing, such as the forearms or front of the thighs. Typically, people also hurt themselves repeatedly, resulting in extensive scars from previous episodes. People are often preoccupied with thoughts about the injurious acts.
Why people injure themselves is unclear, but self-injury may be

A way to reduce tension or negative feelings
A way to resolve interpersonal difficulties
Self-punishment for perceived faults
A plea for help

Some people do not think their self-injury is a problem and thus tend not to seek or accept counseling.