Understanding
Self-Harm and More
Self Harm
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Quality Standard (NICE) defines self-harm as intentional act of self-poisoning or self-injury, irrespective of the motivation or apparent purpose. An umbrella term, self-harm includes a variety of different behaviours which can differ in individuals and change over time. Reasons may also change, and although likely to be a way to cope with difficult emotions or experiences, this will not always be the case. The act provides a means of replacing psychological pain with physical pain and a means of mal-adaptively asserting control over a situation, thought or emotion which the individuals are otherwise struggling to cope with. As well as establishing a sense of control, our young people utilise self-harm as a form of self-punishment; a means of relieving anxiety and tension; a means of eliciting care giving from others or to numb themselves to distressing thoughts, feelings and memories. Conversely some young people use self-harm as a way of feeling alive, or feeling something where they are otherwise numb.
Attachment Disorder
Attachment disorder in children refers to difficulties forming and maintaining healthy emotional bonds with those that seek to care for them. They can impact social and emotional development and manifest in various ways; from emotional withdrawal to difficulty regulating emotions and exhibiting challenging behaviours. Attachment disorders are caused by various factors, including neglect and abuse. In some cases our young people’s attachment disorders can be exacerbated by institutionalisation, or simply as a consequence of having multiple care placements. Our teams are trained to help repair attachment disorders through the forming and establishment of healthy emotional bonds. In young people who have previously not experienced heathy attachments, this work can often be central to their progress and can prove to be challenging and rewarding in equal measure.
Borderline Personality Disorder
The National Institute of Mental Health describe Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) as a mental illness that severely impacts a person’s ability to regulate their emotions. This loss of emotional control can increase impulsivity, affect how a person feels about themselves, and negatively impact their relationships with others. Individuals with BPD may experience mood swings, a distorted sense of self, and intense, unstable relationships. They may experience extremely intense emotions and have great difficulty regulating these; so much so that they may utilise self-harm or have suicidal thoughts. Difficulties forming and maintaining relationships can often result in an intense and pervasive fear of abandonment. BPD can often result in people having cognitive and perceptual distortions, which can result in them having difficulties understanding and processing information. Some people with BPD have also described a chronic sense of emptiness and a lack of sense of purpose or direction. Trauma and neglect in childhood is a common theme in many diagnosed with BPD alongside environmental and genetic factors. Causes remain unclear and differ in individuals. How an individual experiences living with BPD is completely individual and unique to that person.
