Psycology Essay Example

Psycology Essay Example Psycology Essay Psycology Essay This is a psychological reflective essay to examine and gain a greater understanding of self-harm. (www. Mild. Org. UK) I shall utilities Gibbs model of reflection (1988) to structure my essay and formalism my thoughts, pollens and research. I will reference my work using the Harvard system of referencing. (www. Elbow. Angela. AC. UK) Description: Whilst working as a cycle responder in central London I was requested to attend to a patient reported to be in a collapsed state and bleeding. Feelings: As I approached the scene I was cautious and slightly apprehensive, concerned about he causes of hemorrhaging, collapse and my own safety. My patient was a late teenage female, her overall appearance was one of neglect, but overall fairly well looking, a visual primary survey indicated this was, at this point not a time critical patient. She was on her own the sleeves of her clothing were blood stained and she smelt of alcohol. She reported to me she had a history of self-harming which was the cause of the blood staining. The lacerations were deep and with her permission, I dressed the wounds, suggested she went to hospital and requested a vehicle to rainspout her. I felt pity for my patient that she was In such a state and driven to such drastic measures. I was curious to how she had managed to self-harm as the idea of deliberately harming oneself is difficult to conceptualize as we spend our time attempting to avoid harming ourselves. I was quite repulsed by the deep scaring from previous episodes which made me question her reasons and motives behind what she was doing and her state of mental health. I felt concern that self harm was evidence of an undiagnosed mental disorder and may possibly be linked to future suicide attempt. Evaluations: I was glad she had she had decided to seek help on this occasion by calling 999, It would have been better If she called before she had self harmed. I was confident we could get the help she needed though she may have felt frustration going through the accident and emergency process as it can sometimes be a slow process. I would have been happier if she had accessed the correct treatment pathways through her GAP. I was concerned she may have left the hospital before she had been assessed and self harmed again. Analysis: Eighty percent of self-harm involves stabbing or cutting the skin with a sharp object. (www. Mentholated. Org. UK). Psychological factors that affect self-harmers: Abuse during childhood, bereavement, troubled parental or partner relationships, war, poverty, and unemployment may also contribute. Its estimated 30% of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder WI self-harm though patients with other diagnoses may also self-harm, suggesting pathways to self-harm would Include those with depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress people who self harm have no form of mental illness and the causes may be substance misuse, dependence and withdrawal, genetics, bullying, abuse (sexual, emotional or physical), neglect, school/work pressures, family financial difficulties, housing problems, relationship troubles, family problems, bereavement, loneliness or isolation, eating disorders. Or perhaps struggling to come to terms with sexuality, or any experience or event that causes negative feelings, thoughts and tensions. For some self-harmers the relief is primarily psychological, while for others this feeling of life comes from the beta endorphins released in the brain. Endorphins are endogenous voids, (medical-dictionary. Defenestration. Com) an opiate-like substance, such as an endorphin, produced by the body. They are released in response to physical injury, they act as natural painkiller, and can induce pleasant feelings which would act to reduce tension and emotional distress. Deliberate self- harm may become a means of seeking pleasure. Many self-harmers report feeling very little or no pain while self-harming and, for some a positive pleasurable experience. Strong, M. 1999), Many self-harmers report feeling very little to no pain while self-harming. Many people experiencing various forms of mental ill-health do have a higher risk of self-harm. ( Slinky, E. D. 2007) Also self-harm can present in the high-functioning individual who have no underlying clinical diagnosis making identifying a potential self harmer difficult and making the concept of self harm difficult for other reasons. Though its common in the younger person, generally starting at puberty through until mid twenties. Self-harm in young children is fairly are but reported cases are starting to increase. Self-harm is also apparent in high- functioning individuals who have no underlying clinical diagnosis. (Slinky, E. D. 2007). Self-harming behavior is generally most common in adolescence and young adults, usually first presenting between the ages of 12 and 24. (Mental Health Foundation, 2006) Self-harm in children is considered to be relatively rare, but the rate has been increasing since the sass (Thomas B; Hardy S; Cutting P 1997). Self- harming behavior can nevertheless occur at any age, including in the elderly. (Pierce, D. 1987) . There is more risk of serious injury and suicide attempts in older people who self-harm. (National Institute for Clinical Excellence 2004), Self-harm is often described as an experience of diversification or a dissociate state. (Natal- tong, D. 2008. ) There are vari ous causes leading to self-harm, but it can affect anyone of any age, sex and state of mental health but certain groups of individuals seem to be at a higher risk. A stigma is attached to self-harm, many people will go to great lengths to hide what they are doing. The I-J ONES study reported only two motives: to draw attention ND because of anger. For some people harming themselves can be a means of drawing attention to the need for help and to ask for assistance in an indirect way. It may also be an attempt to affect others and to manipulate them in some way emotionally. However, those with chronic, repetitive self-harm often do not want attention and hide their scars carefully. Conclusion It would have been an advantage to have a greater understanding of self-harm the that understanding. Action plan The treatment I provided would be the same should a similar situation arise. Ensure he safety of my patient and myself, dress any wounds that required dressing, reassure the patient and ensure they access the appropriate treatment pathway. I would be able to provide better treatment because I would be more aware of the causes. For some individuals, an episode of self harm may be easily triggered by a significant life changing event, but for others the day to day fluctuation in their thoughts and feelings and moods can be too much to bare for them and they react with self-harm. Simple stresses such as a breaking a glass, a loud noise, or running ate for an appointment might be enough to create a tension that is so overwhelming in the individual that they self harm to cope with this. Self-harm can be a method of relieving stress. For some, self-harm can become a habit; something they routinely do to survive on a day to day basis because they dont know what else to do, simply a coping method. As a coping mechanism, self-harm can become psychologically addictive because, to the self-harmer, it works; it enables him or her to deal with intense stress in the current moment. Occasionally a positive experience can be a thaw to self-harm. I would try to tackle the deeper underlying problem by being aware that for all individuals the starting point for recovery is to become aware of their reasons for, and what drives them to self-harm. Then armed with this knowledge that they can learn to respond differently to their difficulties and recognize the pathways to self-harm. Im aware that recovery is always possible, however lost and overwhelmed the person feels. Although self-harm provides a temporary fix to a problem, the relief is short lived, and is quickly followed by other feelings like shame and guilt. Meanwhile, it keeps the self-harmer from learning more effective strategies for feeling better. Helped. Org states that; the first step is to confide in another person. It can be scary to talk about the very thing you have worked so hard to hide, but it can also be a huge relief to finally let go of your secret and share what youre going through. Deciding whom you can trust with such personal information can be difficult. Choose someone who isnt going to gossip or try to take control of your recovery. Ask yourself who in your life makes you feel accepted and supported. It could be a friend, teacher, religious leader, counselor, or relative. But you dont necessarily have to choose someone you are close to. A service I could easily provide as my role as a paramedic being first on scene after a patient has Just self-harmed. There is an uncertainty about which forms of psychosocial and physical treatments of patients who harm themselves are most effective, and further clinical studies are required. But providing support and listening to the causes is definitely the first step. Hawthorn, K. Et al. (1998), further clinical studies are required.