Treatment For Self-Harm In Ohio

Self-harm involves hurting yourself with sharp objects, burns, or inflicting pain to parts of your body. Self-harm is an extreme coping mechanism for intense emotions or other mental illnesses.

If you or a loved one are struggling with self-harm, you may be in severe emotional pain. Enrolling in a mental health treatment plan can help you learn healthier coping skills and avoid self-harm in the future.

Self-Harm Treatment At Ohio Recovery Center

Ohio Recovery Center offers primary mental health treatment in Van Wert, Ohio. Our evidence-based treatment programs can help Ohio residents suffering from a wide-range of mental health conditions, including self-harm.

Self-Harm

Self-harm involves deliberate attempts to inflict pain on or injure yourself. This may be a form of nonsuicidal self-injury, as many people self-harm without the intention of taking their own life.

Self-harm is not a healthy or effective coping mechanism for serious mental health conditions. 

A person who self-harms may feel temporary relief or catharsis, but these positive feelings may be replaced by guilt and shame. These negative emotions can worsen your mental health and well-being in the long-term.

Thinking or talking about hurting yourself are not forms of self-harm. However, talking about plans to self-injure should be taken seriously.

Types Of Self-Harm

Forms of self-harming behaviors may include:

• cutting with sharp objects
• burning the skin
• hitting walls to the point of injury
• picking at wounds
• pulling out hair

These self-injurious behaviors may be deliberate, or done with the intent of hurting yourself, to be classified as self-harm. Accidental injuries may not be forms of self-harm.

Diagnosis

Self-harming can be a sign of a serious mental illness. If you talk to a mental health professional about self-harm, you may receive a referral to professional mental health treatment programs and psychotherapy options to reduce your risk of self-harm in the future.

The referrals you receive may depend on the results of your assessment. Depending on the severity of your self-harm, you may stay in a psychiatric hospital until your health is stable.

Signs & Symptoms

Warning signs of self-harm in a family member or loved one may include:

• wearing long sleeves or pants to cover self-injuries
• talking about negative feelings or low self-esteem
• having poor impulse control
• frequent bruises and wounds
• scars, wounds, or burns that occur in patterns

If you see these signs, someone close to you may be struggling with their mental health.

Risk Factors

If you suffer from serious mental conditions, such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, or other mental health conditions, you may have a higher risk of self-harming behavior. Self-harming behavior can also increase your risk of suicide.

Statistics For Self-Harm

In 2020, there were about 187,000 emergency room visits for self-injury in the United States. Adolescents and young adults in the United States may have a higher risk of self-harm compared to other demographics.

The number of emergency room visits may only cover serious self-inflicted injuries. The number of people who self-harm in the United States as a whole is likely higher.

Treating Self-Harm

Reducing self-harming behaviors can include teaching new coping skills to patients struggling with self-harm.

Many self-harm treatment options may include psychotherapy, as well as treatment for the underlying mental illnesses that can cause self-harm.

Medication

Medication may not be prescribed for self-harming behaviors. However, you may be prescribed medication for your mental disorders. Whether you take medication during mental health treatment may depend on your specific needs.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also known as talking therapy, can help you learn, understand, and control how you deal with stressful situations. Effective psychotherapy can help you replace self-harming behaviors with healthy coping skills.

Evidence-based forms of psychotherapy include cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy.

Other Treatment Options

Other treatment options may depend on the mental health conditions you are suffering from. You may attend support groups, go on a diet, and other forms of relaxation and wellness.

How To Find Self-Harm Treatment In Ohio

National and local health agencies host 24-hour crisis helplines for people struggling with self-harm. You can find and call these phone numbers by contacting your local mental health and addiction recovery board, or by searching online.

Calling a 24-hour self-harm helpline can offer immediate assistance. Long-term help for self-harm and mental disorders may involve enrolling in a mental health treatment program.

Reach Out To Local Treatment Providers

Local mental health professionals may post their information on health department boards. You can look at your local addiction recovery board to learn more about mental health providers near you. You can also use statewide and local information hotlines to find this information.

PCP Or Family Physician

Your primary care provider or family physician can refer you to mental health treatment providers that work for you. These treatment providers may accept the same forms of insurance as your physician.

SAMHSA

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can provide national and local resources for self-harm prevention and mental health care. You can find these resources on the SAMHSA website or by calling one of their phone numbers.

To learn about our evidence-based mental health treatment options, please contact us today.