Self Harm

Are you concerned about yourself or someone else? Here you can find information about self-injurious behavior, support services, and ways to help.

Home Help & Advice FH OÖ Compass Life Self Harm

What is self-harm?

Self-harming behavior or nonsuicidal self-injury (= NSSI) describes actions in which people deliberately injure themselves or inflict pain

There are different types of self-harm behaviour:

cutting yourself, e.g. with a razor blade or a piece of broken glass

pulling out hair

scalding or burning yourself, e.g. with an iron or cigarette butt

hitting your head against the wall

repeatedly opening wounds and not allowing them to heal

It is often about releasing inner tension and feeling oneself as a kind of outlet for expressing painful feelings such as anger, sadness or fear. In various forms, from mild to severe NSSI, more and more damage is inflicted on the body.

What you can do instead?

Immediate relief measures are things that help you to avoid and/or delay the strong urge to hurt yourself in the short term:

  • do sports, exercise physically
  • box on a cushion
  • Put an ice cube in your mouth or hold it in your hand
  • bite on something spicy (e.g. a chili pepper)
  • take a bath or shower
  • do something creative (paint, write, sing loudly, make music,…)
  • Draw lines on your forearm with a red felt-tip pen

Avoid being alone, talk on the phone or text with friends . 

What is often times hard to undertand for people who do not self harm, is how difficult it can be to fully stop. Don't pressure yourself, instead try to incorporate these alternatives into your life and stop self harming step by step.

If you are affected yourself:

There is no need to feel guilty or ashamed. Find someone you trust and who is willing to help you, or contact a counseling center or a crisis hotline.

Here is a List of possible Help Centers: 

Hier ist eine Liste an möglichen Anlaufstellen und Ansprechpersonen:

Concerned About Self-Harm in Your Community?

Self-harm is often the only visible part of a person’s distress, thoughts or feelings. Therefore, be careful when you talk to a person about their injuries.

  • Broach the subject gently, but do not blame the person
  • If the person has major injuries, ask him or her to go to the doctor
  • Ask the person how you can best support them
  • Be patient and listen
  • Create a space of trust

If this behaviour from someone close to you is burdensome to you, you can also always confide in Helplines, for example the GDM-C. This does not mean that you are breaking the trust of your friend! Dealing with such topics as a non-professional is difficult and can lead to psychological problems and distress, know your own limits!

How to Help Someone Who’s Self-Harming Self-harm Signs
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