Healing the Hurt Within: Understand Self-Injury and Self-Harm, and Heal the Emotional Wounds [Anglais] [Broché]

Foreword by Tracy Alderman

The release of this second edition of HTHW could not be more timely. Since the release of the first edition in 1999, we have seen more and more people who are hurting and who are hurting themselves. We have also witnessed an increase in the media attention focused on self-injury; media attention which sometimes sensationalizes this behavior at the cost of accuracy. If we were to believe much of what the media presents, there is a self-injury epidemic infecting our youth, for which there is no cure or prevention (or cause, in many cases). With PR like this, no wonder people react poorly when they hear about self-injury! In HTHW, Jan has done an outstanding job of correcting the media misinformation and showing self-injury for what it is: a method of coping for people who are in emotional distress. Jan clarifies many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding this behavior, helping to reduce the stigma attached to self-injury.

Drawing from her decades of experience as a counselor, trainer, and author, Jan utilizes a variety of sources of information to assist in reinforcing her points. In this book you will read some of the most current research from noted experts in the field of self-injury. Also, the case studies and session transcripts that Jan presents will keep you mesmerized. These courageous individuals allow you to join them in their difficult journeys from hurting and self-injury to healing and health. Finally, Jan lets those who are self-injuring speak for themselves, devoting an entire section to their creative works.

Not being one to shy away from controversial issues, Jan tackles the difficult topic of recovered versus "false" memories. In HTHW, Jan clarifies the way in which self-injury, dissociation, and recovered memories are intertwined, leading to the return of traumatic memories in later life. You’ll also see the traumatic effects of rediscovering these memories only to be told by a mental health professional that they’re "false" or created. Jan also provides strategies for mental health workers to ensure that they work effectively with their clients so as to not risk allegations of creating "false" memories.

Amazingly enough, many people still view self-injury as the same thing as suicide. While self-injury is usually done to help a person cope and get through a difficult situation (a life-sustaining behavior), suicide is performed as a way of ending life. Although this would seem clear enough, I can’t tell you the number of professionals that are unaware of this distinction. Jan helps to allay this confusion and distinguish the differences between these two behaviors. Additionally, Jan provides a comprehensive list of self-harming behaviors and presents a viable definition of self-harm.

HTHW is a book for anyone who has ever dealt with self-injury on any level or even wondered about it. The inclusion of an enormous resource section, tips on healing, and even strategies for therapists to implement, makes this a truly comprehensive and useful book. But perhaps the most important function of HTHW is that it offers hope and help to those who are hurting.

Tracy Alderman, Ph.D. Author of The Scarred Soul: Understanding and Ending Self-Inflicted Violence Co-Author of Amongst Ourselves: A Self-Help Guide to Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder

It’s a perplexing phenomenon with many names – self-injury, self-harm, self-mutilation, self-inflicted violence, self-cutting, and self-abuse to name some. Those who come across it – family members, friends, supporters – even many professionals – struggle to understand why people do it, and find the behaviour disturbing and puzzling. Recent reports imply that it is reaching ‘epidemic proportions,’ particularly among young people. Furthermore, research suggests that it is a frequent companion to eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and dissociative disorders. Those caught in its clutches claim that it is difficult to stop due to its highly addictive nature, or say they are reluctant to try because it helps them ‘feel better,’ ‘more in control,’ ‘more real,’ or simply ‘it keeps them alive.’

In this revised, expanded, and compelling second edition, the author steps beyond the wounds and scars of self-injury to listen to the words of women and men who engage in the practice. She draws on personal testimonies and creative works of individuals trapped in the self-injury and food misuse cycle, those who support them, and people who have stopped self-injuring – as well as on research data and the latest developments in the field.

It is a book of hope, healing, courage, and enlightenment – not just for those who self-injure or self-harm and their supporters, it is a must-read for everyone concerned with the growing issue of self-injury.

Jan Sutton is an experienced counsellor, trainer, and author of several books covering self-harm, counselling skills, and stress management. Passionate about the subject of self-injury, she has devoted many years to studying the phenomenon. She also maintains SIARI (Self-Injury and Related Issues), a large self-injury resource on the web.