Self Injurious
Behaviors
Stephanie Underhill
Teghan Pecherski
Kristen Hague
Ryan Duffy
Samantha
Introduction
Self Injurious Behavior (SIB) includes:
 Self-harm


Cutting

 Self-poisoning


Substance abuse

 defined

as the intentional, direct injuring
of body tissue most often done without
suicidal intentions
Understanding SIB
 Way

of coping with problems
 May help express feelings that can’t
be put into words
 Sadness, self-loathing, emptiness,
guilt, rage.
 Does not solve the underlying issue.
It’s only a temporary solution
Background of Self-Injurers
 The

person seeking treatment is usually
from a middle class to upper class
background, of average to high
intelligence, and has low self-esteem
 Nearly 50% report physical and/or sexual
abuse during his or her childhood.
 As high as 90% report that they were
discouraged from expressing emotions,
particularly anger and sadness.
 More common in females than in males.
Examples of SIB
 Drugs

and Alcohol

 EBD
 Depression/Anxiety
 Schizophrenia
 Abuse

 ADD/ADHD
 Stress
Reasons for Behaviors
 Self-injurers







commonly report they feel:

Empty inside
Over or under stimulated
Unable to express their feelings
Lonely
Not understood by others
Fearful of intimate relationships and adult
responsibilities.
Signs and Symptoms
If you see students with:
 Unexplained wounds or scars
 Blood stains
 Covering up (long sleeves/pants in hot
weather)
 Isolation or Irritability
 Low self-esteem
 Difficulty handling feelings
 Poor functioning at school
How to deal with a student who
is self-harming
 Establish

a close relationship with them so they feel
comfortable
 Give them an alternate way to express themselves
(painting, journals, music)
 Offer support and communication
 If problem is severe, seek medical help (therapist,
psychologist)
INTRO TO SPECIAL ED SIB
Common forms of SIB include…
 Head-hitting

 Head-banging
 Excessive

scratching
 Wrist / Hand-biting

In the most severe cases, SIB can result in…







Retinal detachment
Blindness
Broken bones
Bleeding
Death
Autism
15%

of individuals with
autism display SIB

SIB

Autism
Causes
 Physiological

 Social
 Frustration
 Communication
 Social

attention
 To obtain
tangibles

Data Collection
 Important

to record
 Data should include:
 Physical

/ social
environment
 Lighting / sound
 Who is interacting with
child
 Time day / day of
week / how often
CPI
 Crisis Prevention Institute
 MUST BE TRAINED!
 How to properly restrain a child
 Video on CPI
Intervention
 Behavior

chart – reward with music,
video, games, reading, toyssomething they like. (up to the
discretion of the teacher and
parents)
 CPI
 Positive reinforcement.
 Differential Reinforcement Alternative
Behavior (DRA)
 Music Therapy, Massage Techniques,
and Sensory Stimulation
 Remain calm
Conclusion
 What

is SIB?
 What are some examples of SIB?
 How can educators help students who
demonstrate signs of SIB?
Who would have thought love could cost so much
Every mark on a body shows the lust
As every word said is full of trust
Who would have thought a love could cause such pain
To leave a heart with nothing to gain
Who would have thought that the passion inside
Would drive her crazy
To the point she would want to die
Who would have thought a girl would want so much
Every word from your mouth
And even your touch
A touch from your hands
A sweet kiss from your lips
A hand to hold
And a heart she can give
Who would have thought a love could cost so much
For her to hide the pain in all her cuts
Who would have thought her scars were real
Her escape route is how she deals
To hide the sorrow
And what runs through her mind
She cuts to feel alive.
- Self Abuser (http://www.ibuzzle.com/articles/a-body-of-scars-poem.html)
Resources








http://www.kennedykrieger.org/patientcare/diagnoses-disorders/behavioral-disordersselfinjurious-behavior
http://www.crisisprevention.com/About-CPI
http://www.autism.com/index.php/symptoms_selfinjury
http://www.academia.edu/1908529/Autism_SelfInjurious_Behaviour_SIB_in_the_school_environment
_a_research_report_from_a_specialized_school_in_
England
http://www.mhai.org/Self_Injury.pdf

Self-Injurious Behavior

  • 1.
    Self Injurious Behaviors Stephanie Underhill TeghanPecherski Kristen Hague Ryan Duffy Samantha
  • 2.
    Introduction Self Injurious Behavior(SIB) includes:  Self-harm  Cutting  Self-poisoning  Substance abuse  defined as the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue most often done without suicidal intentions
  • 3.
    Understanding SIB  Way ofcoping with problems  May help express feelings that can’t be put into words  Sadness, self-loathing, emptiness, guilt, rage.  Does not solve the underlying issue. It’s only a temporary solution
  • 4.
    Background of Self-Injurers The person seeking treatment is usually from a middle class to upper class background, of average to high intelligence, and has low self-esteem  Nearly 50% report physical and/or sexual abuse during his or her childhood.  As high as 90% report that they were discouraged from expressing emotions, particularly anger and sadness.  More common in females than in males.
  • 5.
    Examples of SIB Drugs and Alcohol  EBD  Depression/Anxiety  Schizophrenia  Abuse  ADD/ADHD  Stress
  • 6.
    Reasons for Behaviors Self-injurers       commonly report they feel: Empty inside Over or under stimulated Unable to express their feelings Lonely Not understood by others Fearful of intimate relationships and adult responsibilities.
  • 7.
    Signs and Symptoms Ifyou see students with:  Unexplained wounds or scars  Blood stains  Covering up (long sleeves/pants in hot weather)  Isolation or Irritability  Low self-esteem  Difficulty handling feelings  Poor functioning at school
  • 8.
    How to dealwith a student who is self-harming  Establish a close relationship with them so they feel comfortable  Give them an alternate way to express themselves (painting, journals, music)  Offer support and communication  If problem is severe, seek medical help (therapist, psychologist)
  • 9.
    INTRO TO SPECIALED SIB Common forms of SIB include…  Head-hitting  Head-banging  Excessive scratching  Wrist / Hand-biting In the most severe cases, SIB can result in…      Retinal detachment Blindness Broken bones Bleeding Death
  • 10.
  • 11.
    Causes  Physiological  Social Frustration  Communication  Social attention  To obtain tangibles Data Collection  Important to record  Data should include:  Physical / social environment  Lighting / sound  Who is interacting with child  Time day / day of week / how often
  • 12.
    CPI  Crisis PreventionInstitute  MUST BE TRAINED!  How to properly restrain a child  Video on CPI
  • 13.
    Intervention  Behavior chart –reward with music, video, games, reading, toyssomething they like. (up to the discretion of the teacher and parents)  CPI  Positive reinforcement.  Differential Reinforcement Alternative Behavior (DRA)  Music Therapy, Massage Techniques, and Sensory Stimulation  Remain calm
  • 14.
    Conclusion  What is SIB? What are some examples of SIB?  How can educators help students who demonstrate signs of SIB?
  • 15.
    Who would havethought love could cost so much Every mark on a body shows the lust As every word said is full of trust Who would have thought a love could cause such pain To leave a heart with nothing to gain Who would have thought that the passion inside Would drive her crazy To the point she would want to die Who would have thought a girl would want so much Every word from your mouth And even your touch A touch from your hands A sweet kiss from your lips A hand to hold And a heart she can give Who would have thought a love could cost so much For her to hide the pain in all her cuts Who would have thought her scars were real Her escape route is how she deals To hide the sorrow And what runs through her mind She cuts to feel alive. - Self Abuser (http://www.ibuzzle.com/articles/a-body-of-scars-poem.html)
  • 16.