Citation

Holm AL, Severinsson E. Nurs. Health Sci. 2010; 12(1): 52-57.

Affiliation

Department of Nursing Education, Stord/Haugesund University College, Haugesund, Norway. anne.holm@hsh.no

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1442-2018.2009.00485.x

PMID

20487326

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore and interpret women's desire to survive emotional pain related to self-harm. Women who suffer from borderline personality disorder describe emotional pain as intense. Previous research indicates that self-harm is a way of obtaining emotional relief and offers an escape from unwanted emotions, thoughts, and/or distressing situations. An explorative, interpretative design was employed. The data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with a sample of women resident in Norway suffering from borderline personality disorder and were analyzed using a hermeneutic approach. The findings revealed one main theme, self-sacrifice, and two other themes, self-harm (a struggle to be relieved of responsibility) and a fear of intimacy versus intrusion. This study indicates that self-sacrifice appears to imply a longing for reconnection with the self and others. To preserve their self-image, the women require courage to survive the painful state of unworthiness.

Language: en