Self-harm in children: why does a child injure himself?

Unfortunately, there is a high percentage of children who self-injure or, in other words, there are many children who deliberately cause themselves harm in their own bodies to face difficult feelings that grow within themselves. Perhaps there is nothing more painful and disturbing for parents than f

Unfortunately, there is a high percentage of children who self-injure or, in other words, there are many children who deliberately cause themselves harm in their own bodies to face difficult feelings that grow within themselves.

Perhaps there is nothing more painful and disturbing for parents than finding out that their child is hurting or hurting themselves intentionally. Therefore, in Guiainfantil.com we want to help alleviate the suffering that self-injurious behaviors cause in children and their parents. We explain everything about self-harm in children.

Self-harm in children, why is it produced?

Self-harm may be suicidal or not. Luckily, the majority of children who self-harm do not intend to commit suicide, but we must not downplay self-harm. Why can a child harm himself?

- Normally, behind the self-injury hides a great emotional pain that the child does not know how to manage so he uses this type of behavior to temporarily alleviate negative emotions that overtake him such as guilt, anger, fear, worry, sadness, etc. Hay - There are children that when things do not go as they would like to experience

feelings of frustration and, such frustration triggers in them an aggressiveness that they direct towards themselves causing damage to their body. It is common to observe this type of behavior in impulsive children since as we know they are characterized by having a low tolerance to frustration. - Some children manifest self-harm behaviors as a means to

manipulate the adults in their environment . Self-injuries with manipulative character are very frequent. Sometimes, children manifest this type of behavior to capture their parents' attention and trap them emotionally.- Many times, children

do not have the necessary tools to solve the problems they encounter. Not all children have the capacity to solve their day-to-day problems efficiently and without it causing emotional strain. There are children who, faced with problems, feel overwhelmed and this can cause them to manifest self-injurious behaviors. These are the main reasons or at least the

most common reasons favoring self-harm in children , however, there are many other reasons. Whatever the reason that has favored them, what is extremely important is not to stop paying attention to this type of behaviorsWhat to do when a child hurts himself

If our child self-injures, expresses disinterest in life or it expresses suicidal ideas or thoughts ("I want to die", "I will hurt myself", "my life is disgusting", etc.). We should not get angry with him, nor should we think that "they are children's thing" or downplay it. Think that you simply want to get attention.

It is recommended that we show ourselves accessible to our children, that we talk about their concerns and try to offer them all our love and understanding

. Panic should not spread but we can not ignore this type of behavior either. It may be enough to talk with our son and offer him strategies so that he learns to manage his emotions in a more adequate and healthy way. But if the self-harm persists, after having done everything we as parents can do, it is necessary to seek professional help, so that a specialist in this type of behavior helps the child and, on the other hand, guides and advises the parents on the way to proceed