Types of Self Harm
Self-injury, also called self-harm or self-mutilation, is defined as any intentional injury to one's own body. Usually, self-injury leaves marks or causes tissue damage. Self-injury can involve any of the following behaviors:
Other closely related forms of self-injury include deeply scratching the skin with fingernails, piercing the skin, and carving symbols or words into the flesh. Additional forms of self-harm include biting the skin, burning the skin, head banging, punching, intentional hair pulling and intentional bone breaking.
Self-harm may start with the breakup of a relationship, as an impulsive reaction. It may start simply out of curiosity. For many kids, it's the result of a repressive home environment, where negative emotions are swept under the carpet, where feelings aren't discussed.
Hitting (with hammer or ... Self-punching or ... What Is the Outlook for People Who Engage in Self-Injury? The prognosis for self-injurious behavior varies depending ...
Self injury, also called self-harm, ... Excessive body piercing or tattooing; Picking at skin or re-opening wounds; ... or sharp objects that one would not expect ...
Cutting, hair pulling, and skin picking can lead to infection and scarring that requires treatment by a dermatologist or other type of physician. Self-help strategies are essential tools for managing and eliminating self-mutilating behaviors. These include: Managing stress.
To me, scratching does count as self harm because is a way of relieving stress (using your body) in a way not accepted as natural. The skin gets damaged by doing it no matter that goes unnoticed.