Self Injury pt 2

       In the last post I covered just a few of the forms of SI. I had stated that some of the people who do SI are not doing it for attention seeking or to even be "found out". Some do it as a way to prove something to themselves and even just the thought of others knowing about it sends fear right to the bone within them. Now there are others who do it for attention seeking or to get their needs met without having to say it out loud.
       Those who do this and actually want people to find out about their SI want help with what is going on inside them and they do not know how to get that help any other way. Too many times these none lethal SI is ignored or brushed off as attention getting. Well meaning individuals may see this and feel that ignoring this type of behavior is the best way to handle it. Some may think that if the person is not getting the attention they are seeking then they will stop doing it. May be true but I would not want take that chance.
       When behaviors are ignored or not seen by those around the individual, the MI individual may "up the antie" the next time. This could potentially cause an individual to seek out more risky SI methods just to make a point when their original intent was not necessarily to seriously hurt themselves. As I have said before, MI is a "soft science" and there is not right or wrong answer nor is there a "tried and true" solution. What works for one may not work for another.
        I know a young lady who used to dabble in the "attention seeking" type of SI. In her mind, she felt her father did not love her or care about her. She would tape her feet or hands so tightly that her fingers and toes would turn blue. One time it was hours before I figured out what she had done, and "light didn't dawn on bedrock" until she was limping because she could not feel her toes. Granted this would not have killed her nor would it seriously impact her life (unless she did it long enough to injure her tissue or limb) but it speaks volumes.
        When she was placed into a phosp for help, to her this stay proved to her that her father did not care. He came to visit her once during her inpatient stay that lasted was 4 weeks long. He did not attend the family meetings with the doctor nor did he call to see how she was doing. This young lady still to this day struggles with the thoughts that her father still does not love her but I am praying that there can at some point be a breakthrough for her and she can move on. 
         Yes SI is a serious thing to deal with whether the SI act is a lethal one or not. All SI is done for a reason and that reason needs to be dealt with for the individual to become mentally healthy. No matter who it is or what they do, it needs to be looked at and not ignored.