Often you will see scars on depressed individuals, either from burns, cutting or picking. This is a way for the emotionally numb person to actually experience intense feelings. Self injurious behavior can help you express and feel emotions that are otherwise pent up. Unfortunately, people who engage in self injurious behavior feel guilt and shame knowing their actions are uncommon or even unacceptable ways of dealing with stress. Yet self harm is typically used to 'feel something' or distract oneself from their painful numbness. Victims of sexual abuse are known to engage in self injurious behaviors in effort to make their bodies less attractive. Wearing long sweaters and layers of clothing in the heat of summer is usually indicative of individuals hiding lacerations caused by self injurious acts. Since people who self injure tend to hide their scars, it is not true that the injury is done for attention.
For more information on self injurious behavior, please refer to the Cornell Research About Self Injury.
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