Self Harm + Self-Injury Treatment in Atlanta, GA
Dr. Bryon McQuirt
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Bryon McQuirt
April 24, 2024
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When someone engages in the act of self-harm, they may not understand why they do it. This behavior is part of a mental health disorder that happens more commonly than many people know. The good news is self-harm treatment helps people overcome their condition. Our staff is made up of compassionate, friendly therapeutic experts who can lead a person away from the desire to harm themselves.
You are not alone. You deserve to get help.
Peachtree Wellness is an industry leader in mental health treatment. Our team of top medical experts specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and are committed to ensuring that each patient is treated as an individual. Call us today, we’re available 24/7.
Who Is at Risk for Self-Harm?
Researchers find it sometimes can be difficult to do complete studies on which populations are more likely to self-harm. This is because self-harm is often done in private and not recognized by others. As well, even when an injury requires medical help, many people are too embarrassed or scared to see a doctor. Many teenagers self-harm, although people of all ages can do it.
Females are thought to outnumber the males who do it, but some studies show that anywhere from 35-50% of self-injurers may be male. People who have experienced trauma, either currently or in the past, are more likely to engage in self-harm than others. The same is true of individuals with an eating disorder. Self-harm also shows up frequently in sexual minorities. This includes people who identify as LGBTQ+.
Self-harm can happen regardless of a person’s gender, age, sexual preference, race, and other identifying factors.
Signs and Symptoms of Self-Harm Behaviors
Someone can be in need of self-harm treatment for a while before others notice. However, there are some common signs and symptoms of self-harm. These include:
- Wearing long sleeves, pants, jackets, or other inappropriate clothing for the weather
- Avoiding activities that reveal skin, such as going to the gym or swimming
- Signs of injury or wounds, such as scratches, cuts, or burns
- Not having valid explanations for injuries
- Broken bones
- Having or hiding sharp instruments like razor blades or knives that can be used to cut
- Having or hiding lighters or matches that can be used to burn
- Isolating
- Moodiness or showing a lack of emotion
Females more commonly choose to cut themselves as a form of self-harm. Alternatively, males are more likely to hit and bruise themselves or have someone else hurt them.
How is Self-Harm Treated?
Self-harm treatment can happen in two different forms. Residential treatment can be used for those who need treatment in a 24/7 format. For others, outpatient care works best. Outpatient care takes place during the day, which allows the individual to live at home. In both types of treatment, therapists focus on using types of therapy that prove beneficial to those who self-harm.
Through therapy, people learn to identify their triggers. From there, they learn how to use healthy ways to relieve these emotional burdens. This includes addressing any existing mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. When someone learns to reduce their stress levels and replace self-harm with healthy coping skills, the urge to hurt themselves begins to subside.
Effects of Self-Harm
Someone who needs self-harm treatment can experience different types of damaging effects. Physical effects include permanent scarring and other medical consequences. Additionally, many people who self-harm suffer emotional and psychological damage. For many, the fact that they self-harm causes them to feel shame and embarrassment, which keeps them in a spiral of hurting themselves in order to try to relieve those feelings. Those who self-harm also tend to have low self-esteem, isolate socially from others, and experience difficulty connecting with others.
If You are in need of immediate care...
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What to Expect During Self-Harm Treatment
Access to multiple types of therapy lies at the heart of self-harm treatment. Peachtree Wellness Solutions provides both residential and outpatient care. With both programs, we provide access to several kinds of therapy, including:
- Individual therapy
- Psychiatry
- Holistic therapy
- Medication-assisted treatment
- EMDR therapy (helpful for trauma issues)
- Spravato treatment
- Red light therapy
We also offer evaluations to see if using prescription medications can help address the root causes of self-harm. Our staff can recommend FDA-approved medications and monitor each person for how they react to them.
Preventing Self-Harm
Someone who self-harms can help prevent episodes of it by practicing using healthy coping skills. First, they should find someone they can confide in when they feel overwhelmed. This can be a parent, other family members, a close friend, or a therapist. Being able to speak openly can relieve the urge to harm themselves.
Another method to prevent self-harm is to make a list of potential triggers. It can include people, situations, and emotions like anger, sadness, or frustration. Making the connection that certain things cause an urge to self-harm can help the person predict a trigger that may occur.
Short-term activities can prove helpful by providing a distraction. The individual can try sensory-provoking acts like taking a shower or eating hot or cold foods. They can also engage in creative acts like drawing, writing in a journal, or listening to music. Another option is to engage in a short burst of exercise or focus on something like a puzzle or game.
Find Self-Harm Treatment Today
When someone self-harms, they usually feel shame about what’s happening. This can make it difficult to reach out for help. Peachtree Wellness Solutions makes it easy to get the help everyone deserves. Our self-harm treatment program offers two ways to get help. We provide both residential and outpatient care, which allows us to work with your schedule. The variety of therapies we offer helps people come to terms with the reasons behind self-harm and how to move past it.
If you would like to talk to our staff about finding help for self-harm, contact us now. We have answers to any questions you have.
We Work With Most Major Insurance
Did you know most major health insurance plans with out-of-network benefits can cover the costs associated with our mental health program? Find out your coverage and treatment options below.
