Self-embedding, the evolution of self-mutilation

December 4, 2008

What will they think of next?

Self embedding, the evolution of self mutilation In a disturbing trend, teens are taking to “self-embedding,” a new form of mutilation. The practice takes self-cutting one step further, by literally embedding an object inside the wound.

The practice has an addictive tendency, and “unlike cutting, which causes pain and then the pain subsides with healing, embedding causes constant and increasing pain.”

There is an association with suicidal ideation, and although it is not listed as an actual DSM disorder, there are those lobbying for self-embedding to be a distinct clinical disease.



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{ 1 comment }

1 Anonymous December 4, 2008 at 6:41 pm

disease? You mean disorder. Personally. I am a lumper, not a splitter and see no reason why one form of self-mutilation should be seperated from another on that basis. The important distinctions are really comorbidities, motivation, and social context rather than the specific act.

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