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| Treating Self Harm Addiction Oasis recognises a self-harm as an addiction that is just as powerful as all other compulsive behaviours such as gambling and drug addiction. A self-harmer or a cutter is someone who engages in behaviour that causes a physical injury to their body, through cutting or other methods, in order to escape intense emotional feelings which they are unable to process or cope with in a healthy way. To the person, self-harm is so effective at removing the focus and feelings of these emotions, the act of cutting becomes addictive and a coping mechanism. When the body is subjected to injury, serotonin and adrenalin are released, making the act of self-mutilation even more of a "high" inducing activity. Methods used by self-mutilators include cutting flesh with a sharp object, burning skin with a cigarette or branding themselves with scorching lighters. A person who engages in self-harm usually follows a specific ritual, for example, only cutting a certain part of their body and using a favourite "tool" to do so; some prefer glass, some prefer razor blades etc. The self-harmer will usually make an effort to hide their addiction and scars despite their actions being a type of cry for help. Many people react to cutting by thinking that the person is an attention seeker, which is sometimes the case, but for very valid reasons - they need help. Another common misconception about self-harming is that the cutter is trying to commit suicide - this is not the case. At Oasis Counselling Centre we encourage self-mutilators to work a 12 Step recovery programme whilst receiving individual one-on-one counselling in conjunction with group therapy when treating their addiction. Often, cutting and other self-harm is an addiction which is prominent in users for some time, and often the user also displays other addictive behaviours such as drug use and eating disorders. We recommend that a client seeking help for a self-harm addiction at our rehabilitation centre remain in Oasis Counselling Centre for three months, followed by admission to our tertiary care facility: Solar House rehab centre. Treating self-harm addiction is not a quick process; clients in a self-harm addiction treatment centre require a lot of support and care to arrest their problem. If you have any questions about self-harm addiction treatment or about treating self-harm addiction, please contact Oasis Counselling Centre in Plettenberg Bay so we can answer any questions you may have.
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