The Scarred Soul

Understanding and ending self harm.

by Tracy Alderman, Ph.D.

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A New Diagnosis?

May 2013 is just around the corner (well, sort of) and with that comes the publication of the DSM-5. According to www.dsm5.org the American Psychiatric Association will be releasing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - 5 during their 2013 annual meeting in San Francisco, CA. Read More

New Ideas for New Year's Resolutions

A New Year - A New Decade - New Resolutions

Over the years most of us have made New Year's resolutions that we committed to with passion, promised to uphold, and pinkie swore we'd abide by for years to come. And by mid-January many of us have dismissed, forgotten or just given up on these pledges. Read More

Tattoos and Piercings: Self-Injury?

A few weeks ago when I was out walking, I noticed a sign in the window of one of the local tattoo shops. "Yes, it hurts!" the sign declared. The sign made me recall a question that frequently occurs when talking about self-injury. Are tattoos and piercings really just forms of self-injury? Read More

Self-Injury: Does it Matter What It's Called?

What's in a Name? In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare wrote the now infamous lines, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." Although Shakespeare might argue that a name holds little meaning, those studying topics such as self-injury might think a bit differently. Read More

The Relationship Between Self-Injury and Sexual Orientation

I will present a very brief overview of self-injury and then postulate a connection between self-injury and the LGBT population and why prevalence of self-injury might be higher among this group. Read More

Myths and Misconceptions of Self-Injury: Part II

Self-Injury Hurts! When it comes to pain, I am a wimp. If I accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer I'm ready to call an ambulance. Like many, I had a hard time understanding how those who self-injure report experiencing little or no pain when hurting themselves. Read More

Self-Injury: Myths and Misconceptions (Part 1)

"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie - deliberate, contrived and dishonest - but the myth - persistent, persuasive and unrealistic."

-- John Fitzgerald Kennedy Read More