01 September 2024

Why Do People With BPD Self-Harm?

Borderline Personality Disorder Self-Harm: Awareness, Research and Resources 

Why Do People With BPD Self-Harm?

You might imagine that a person would resort to self-mutilation only under extremes of duress, but once I'd crossed that line the first time, taken that fateful step off the precipice, then almost any reason was a good enough reason, almost any provocation was provocation enough. Cutting was my all-purpose solution.” ― Caroline Kettlewell

She craves the brutality of the attack because when it comes it will be a release.”― Ivy Pochoda

Borderline Personality Disorder Self-Harm Research

Why Do People With Borderline Personality Disorder Self-Harm?

"Self-harm in people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is often a coping mechanism to deal with intense emotional pain, overwhelming feelings, or a sense of numbness. Here are some key reasons why self-harm might occur in individuals with BPD:

1. Emotional Regulation
  • People with BPD often experience intense emotions, such as anger, sadness, or anxiety. Self-harm may provide temporary relief from these overwhelming emotions by diverting attention from the emotional pain to physical pain.
2. Coping with Emotional Numbness
  • Some individuals with BPD experience periods of emotional numbness or dissociation, where they feel disconnected from themselves or their surroundings. Self-harm can be a way to "feel something" and reconnect with their body and emotions.
3. Self-Punishment
  • Due to feelings of guilt, shame, or self-loathing, people with BPD may engage in self-harm as a form of self-punishment. These individuals often have an internalized sense of worthlessness, and self-harm might serve as an expression of that.
4. Expression of Internal Pain
  • For those who struggle to verbalize or express their emotions, self-harm can be a way to physically manifest their inner turmoil. It becomes a visible sign of their emotional distress.
5. Control
  • Self-harm might give individuals a sense of control in situations where they feel powerless. By inflicting physical harm, they may feel they are taking control over their emotional pain or external circumstances.
6. Relief from Dissociation or Unreality
  • People with BPD sometimes experience dissociative episodes or feelings of unreality (depersonalization or derealization). Self-harm can be a way to "ground" themselves and return to a sense of reality.
7. Attention or Communication
  • In some cases, self-harm may be a cry for help or a way to signal distress when words feel insufficient. However, this doesn't mean it's manipulative; rather, it’s often a desperate attempt to communicate pain.
8. Endorphin Release
  • Physical injury can cause the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, which can create a brief feeling of relief or even euphoria. This can lead to a cycle where the person turns to self-harm to temporarily ease emotional pain.

Addressing self-harm in individuals with BPD often requires therapy, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which helps them develop healthier coping mechanisms for regulating emotions and managing distress." (Source: ChatGPT 2024)


"People with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) may self-harm for several reasons, often related to the intense emotional and psychological challenges they face. Here are some common reasons:
  • Emotional Regulation: Self-harm can be a way to manage overwhelming emotions. People with BPD often experience intense emotional swings, and self-harm can provide a temporary sense of relief or control over these emotions 1 2.
  • Dissociation: Some individuals with BPD experience dissociative episodes, where they feel disconnected from their body or reality. Self-harm can help them feel more grounded and regain a sense of control over their physical presence 3.
  • Expression of Internal Pain: Self-harm can be a way to externalize internal pain. It can serve as a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil they are experiencing 4.
  • Manipulation or Communication: In some cases, self-harm may be used to communicate distress or to influence the behavior of others. This is often a cry for help or a way to express needs that they feel cannot be communicated verbally 2.
  • Sense of Agency: Engaging in self-harm can sometimes increase a person’s sense of personal agency, giving them a feeling of control over their body and actions 4.

Understanding these motives can help in providing appropriate support and interventions for individuals with BPD. If you or someone you know is struggling with self-harm, it’s important to seek professional help." (Source: Microsoft Copilot)

An Evaluation of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Self-Harm in Adolescents: The Role of Borderline Personality Pathology PDF Download American Psychological Association

How and Why Do Those With Borderline Personality Disorder Hurt Themselves? Psych Central

Pain and Identity Destruction - Borderline Personality Disorder and Self-Harm Self Injury Support

Prediction of Self-Injury Behavior in Men with Borderline Personality Disorder Based on Their Symptoms of Borderline Personality and Alexithymia Brieflands


Psychological Interventions for Self-harm Behaviour and Suicide Attempts in Borderline
Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review PDF Download Ibn Haldun University of Istanbul

Self-Harm, Disordered Eating and Borderline Personality Disorder NHS

Self-Harm - What You Need to Know Rethink Mental Illness

Self-Harm in the Context of Borderline Personality Disorder ScienceDirect

Self-Harming Threats and Behavior in BPD Psychology Today

Self-Harming and Sense of Agency in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder Frontiers in Psychiatry

Self-Mutilation and Borderline Personality Disorder: BPD is associated with an increased risk for self-injurious behavior Verywell Mind

Self-Relevant Disgust and Self-Harm Urges in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and Depression: A Pilot Study with a Newly Designed Psychological Challenge Plos One

Sub-threshold or Full-Syndrome Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents with recurrent Self-Harm – Distinctly or Dimensionally Different? BMC

Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior in People With BPD Psychiatric Times

The Connection Between Borderline Personality Disorder and Self-Harm Clinic Les Alpes

Trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Self-Harm: A Counselling Psychology Perspective
City University of London

Understanding BPD, Self-Harm, and Cutting in Young Adults OPI Residential Treatment Center for Young Adults


Understanding Self-Harm in Borderline Personality Disorder Calda Clinic

Understanding Self-Mutilation in Borderline Personality Disorder Harvard Review of Psychiatry

Understanding Triggers and Self-Harm NEA BDP

Volitional Determinants of Self-Harm Behaviour and Suicidal Risk in Persons with Borderline Personality Disorder ScienceDirect


Self Harm & BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)

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