Depression: 1. the act of of depressing or state of being depressed. 2. a depressed or sunken place or area. 3. a mental disorder, characterized by extreme gloom, feelings of inadequacy and inability to concentrate. [from Old French depresser, from Latin deprimere] Self: 1. the distinct individuality or identity of a person or thing. 2. a persons usual or typical bodily make-up or personal characteristics. [Old English seolf; related to Old Norse sialfr, Gothic silba,Old High German selb] Mutilate: 1. to deprive of a limb, essential part, etc; maim; dismember. 2. to mar, expurgate, or damage. [from Latin mutilare to cut off; related to mutilus maimed] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Definition: Self-mutilation is the deliberate mutilation of the body or a part of the body, not with the intent to commit suicide, but as a way of managing emotions that seem too painful for words to express. Other Names: self-injury, self-harm, deliberate self-harm, delicate self-cutting, autoaggression Three Types: Major self-mutilation is the most extreme form of self-injury. It involves infrequent acts of great tissue destruction (limb amputation, castration). Permanent disfigurement is the result. It is associated with acute intoxicated or psychotic states. Stereotypic self-mutilation involves rhythmic, fixed patterns of self-mutilation (eyeball pressing, head banging). It is most common in autistic individuals and institutionalized mentally retarded people. Superficial or Moderate self-mutilation occurs repetitively and sporadically. It is not highly lethal and develops an addictive quality that can become an overwhelming preoccupation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Individuals who self-mutilate tend to have these personality factors: *perfectionistic tendencies *inability to tolerate intense feelings *dislike of the body *inability to express emotional experiences and needs *prone to rapid mood swings The background of a self-mutilating individual may include one or more of the following: *childhood physical or sexual abuse *violence at home *stormy parental relations or broken homes *hypercritical mother and/or father *lack of emotional warmth from parents *neglect Individuals who self-mutilate report many reasons why they engage in this behavior. *release of mounting tension *escaping numbness *coping with alienation *release from psychological pain
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