If your self-harm is at all severe, you’ve tried to stop on your own and failed, or you suspect you may have an underlying mental health problem such as depression, we strongly recommend you seek some form of professional help from a doctor or therapist. Self-harm and related problems can be treated with talk therapy, medication, or occasionally hospitalisation.
This page provides general information on treatments, while the rest of the Getting Help section explains how to access help in the UK.
Contents
Counselling & therapy
Medication
Hospitalisation
Complementary medicine
Where to get help
Counselling & Therapy
There are many different forms of counselling or therapy, but they all involve talking over your problems with a trained professional. If you self-injure, therapy can help you find alternatives to self-harm, healthier ways of coping with your problems. It can also address the causes of your self-harm such as depression, family problems or abuse.
General Information
Therapy
General information and advice on finding a therapist if you self-injure.
Therapeutic Approaches
More technical information on different kinds of therapy that can help people who self-harm.
Counselling
Counselling aims to provide an opportunity for you to work towards living in a more satisfying and resourceful way.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy aims to help you to understand why you feel the way you do, and what lies behind your responses to other people and to things that happen to you. It goes deeper than counselling: you may be encouraged to look closely at your past, particularly your childhood, and your relationships with significant people in your life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a short-term talking treatment with a highly practical approach to problem-solving. Aims to change patterns of thinking or behaviour that are behind people’s difficulties, and in doing so to change the way they feel.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a form of therapy which has been specially developed for people with borderline personality disorder. It teaches skills of distress tolerance, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness.
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
CAT is similar to CBT, but focuses on the past as well as the present. It involves a therapist and a client working together, by looking at what has hindered changes in the past, in order to understand better how to move forward in the present.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy can help people control, alleviate or overcome particular symptoms or conditions. It can also be used to help people gain insight into problems which may underlie their symptoms, such as hidden fears, repressed feelings, and emotional conflicts.
Medication
Medication is often prescribed to treat underlying mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, mood swings or hallucinations. A drug called naltrexone is also occasionally used to reduce self-harm cravings or stop self-harm from feeling “good” – but I’ve yet to hear of this being done in the UK.
Making Sense Of…
Information on all the main types of medication, as well as other treatments such as ECT.
Alphabetical List of Drugs
A list of all drugs prescribed for mental health problems in the UK, with links to further information.
Psychopharmacological Treatment of Self-Injury
Detailed, quite technical information on the types of medication prescribed to self-injurers. Includes information on naltrexone.
Hospitalisation
People who self-harm are occasionally admitted to hospital, either for their own safety and protection (if their self-harm is seriously threatening their life) or to treat severe mental health problems.
How to cope with hospital admission
Some advice on what to expect if you’re admitted to hospital.
Compulsory admission to hospital
Information on being sectioned (admitted to hospital against your will) in the UK.
Complementary Medicine
(in memory of Caro)
There are many “alternative” treatments available for mental health problems. If you’re on any prescribed medication, always check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking herbal remedies.
Making Sense of Homeopathy
Describes how homeopathic medicine may help people who have mental health needs.
Making Sense of Herbal Remedies
Offers an introduction to Western herbal medicine, gives information about basic self-help and describes some of the herbs you can use.
St John’s Wort Factsheet
Information on the herbal remedy St John’s Wort, used to treat depression.
Making Sense of Tradional Chinese Medicine
An introduction to traditional Chinese medicine, including herbal medicine and acupuncture.
Aromatherapy for Emotional Wellbeing
A list of essential oils that may help with various emotional issues. Part of a very comprehensive aromatherapy site.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Information on omega-3 fish oils and their role in treating depression and mood swings.
Where to Get Help
If you’re in the UK, the following pages in this section – The NHS, Charities & Counselling, Going Private and Support Groups – give details of how to access treatment. Some of the charities and support groups listed also cover the Republic of Ireland.
If you’re outside the UK, you may find these links useful:
How Will I Pay?
Information and advice for those in the USA or other countries which don’t have a national health service. (This is on an eating disorders site, but a lot of it applies to seeking help for any mental health problem.)
Resources for Those Who Self-Injure
Sources of professional help in the USA, Canada and Australia.
Our Helplines page covers all countries around the world.