Citation

Ogden J, Bennett A. Health Psychol Open 2015; 2(2): e2055102915605987.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/2055102915605987

PMID

28070372

PMCID

PMC5193281

Abstract

Adults (n = 25) completed online free text boxes about their self-harming behaviour. Thematic analysis identified three dominant themes: 'managing the private self', 'managing the public self' and 'moving on'. Transcending these themes was the notion of thresholds of change. Self-harm enables people to manage both their private and public selves. When thresholds of change are surpassed, the public self communicates a need for help. Self-harm exists within a precarious balance of well-being and can be a form of self-care. Help seeking is instigated when this balance is disrupted and continued if it offers a better form of self-management than the individual's own self-harming behaviour.

Language: en

Keywords

qualitative; self-harm; help seeking; function; experiences