What Happens When an Addiction Involves Pain to Ease Pain?

Self-injury used as a coping mechanism is an indicator of deep psychological pain that warrants immediate intervention.

Most addictions stem from a conscious or subconscious desire to ease pain, but what happens when the addiction itself involves the infliction of pain? Injuring your self physically in an effort to relieve psychological pain seems like a contradiction. Yet for many, self-injury escalates into an addictive effort to cope with overwhelming negative emotions.

Mayo Clinic staff describes self-injury as harming your own body in a deliberate act of intentional behavior that occurs more than once. Those who practice self-injury indicate they experience a momentary sense of calm and a release of tension followed by guilt, shame and the return of painful emotions. While there are many ways people harm themselves, the most common is cutting. This occurs most frequently on the arms, legs and front of the torso as these areas are easily reached and can be hidden under clothing.

Most prevalent among adolescents, self-injury symptoms are difficult to spot because the injuries are often kept secret. There are signs to look for, though. Be suspicious of scars from burns or cuts, fresh wounds and wearing long sleeves or long pants even in hot weather.

The emotional triggers that lead to self-injury are complex and are generally the result of an inability to cope with deep psychological pain in a healthy way. Many of these cases involve an attempt for control and stem from past trauma including sexual abuse or rigid parenting that leaves them feeling powerless. While it may not seem as serious as some other addictive behaviors, there are definite health risks. The Mayo Clinic warns that self-injury poses the risk of serious injury, infection, disfigurement or even death.

Alta Mira Recovery offers programs to help you or your loved one end self-harm and live a healthy life.