| Summary: | Non-suicidal self-injury is defined as an intentional injury to one’s body without a desire
to cause death. It may involve acts that include, but are not limited to, damaging one’s
own skin and self-poisoning for purposes that are not socially sanctioned. In this article,
the term “non-suicidal self-injury” (NSSI) and its acronym NSSI are preferred because it is
a diagnostic entity in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5). NSSI usually follows a behavioral cycle. It often begins with negative
emotions such as depression, anxiety, or stress. These emotions can trigger the urge to engage
in NSSI, as individuals use self-harm as a coping mechanism to regulate their emotions. This can then trigger a new cycle of negative emotions, vulnerability factors, urges, and
self-injury. Breaking the cycle of NSSI can be challenging and often requires the support of
mental health professionals and the development of healthy coping mechanisms to regulate
negative emotions.
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