Self-harming behavior may sometimes be mistaken for daily injuries, because the scars of the two may be similar in appearance. The following are some common ways of self-injury and their possible misunderstandings, as well as the key points of distinction： --- ### **1. Cuts (such as blades, scissors)** -**Confusing daily injuries**: cooking cuts, paper scratches, branch scratches. -**Distinction point**： -**Location**: Self-injury is common in hidden areas such as the inside of the arm, thigh, abdomen, etc. -**Arrangement**: The wound may have parallel, grid-like, or repeated lines. -**Depth**: The depth is the same, and it may be drawn in the same position multiple times. --- ### **2. Burns (such as cigarette butts, lighters)** -**Confusing daily injuries**: Hot water splashes, heating equipment burns. -**Distinction point**： -**Shape**: Self-injury burns are mostly round (such as cigarette butts) or specific patterns. -**Location**: Focus on accessible and hidden areas (such as arms, ankles). -**Quantity**: Multiple similar scars may appear repeatedly. --- ### **3. Scratched or scratched** -**Confusing daily injuries**: scratches after mosquito bites, pet scratches. -**Distinction point**： -**Depth**: Self-injury scratches are deeper, and may scab or bleed. -**Distribution**: Concentrated in the same area (such as wrist, chest), rather than randomly distributed. --- ### **4. Impact injury (such as fist hitting a wall or hard object)** -**Confusing daily injuries**: sports collisions, bruises from falls. -**Distinction point**： -**Location**: It is common on the back of the hand and tibia (where it deliberately hits a hard object). -**Symmetry**: Symmetrical bruising may occur on the left and right limbs at the same time. --- ### **5. Bite** -**Confusing daily injuries**: Accidental bites to the tongue/lips, animal bites. -**Distinction point**： -**Regularity of tooth marks**: Self-injury bite marks are deep and neatly arranged (such as consistent tooth marks). -**Location**: It mostly appears in areas that can be contacted by yourself such as arms and shoulders. --- ### **6. Abrasions (such as repeated rubbing of the skin)** -**Confusing daily injuries**: fall abrasions, sports friction injuries. -**Distinction point**： -**Shape**: Self-injury abrasions may be in strips or concentrated in a certain area. -**Unknown reason**: There is no reasonable external activity to explain the source of the injury. --- ### **7. Excessive exercise or self-harming behavior** -**Confusing daily injuries**: Sports strains, muscle strains. -**Distinction point**： -**Repeatability**: Repeated injuries in the same area (such as sprained ankles, worn knees). -**Extreme**: Continue high-intensity activities regardless of physical pain. --- ### **8. Pulling hair or skin (trichotillomania, pulling skin)** -**Confusing daily injuries**: Hair loss (such as stress alopecia), skin infections. -**Distinction point**： -**Hair loss area**: Concentrated in blocks, with neat edges. -**Skin damage**: Scratching may be accompanied by scabs or infections. --- ###**Key identification points：** 1. **Concealed location**: Scars often appear in areas that are easy to cover (such as thighs and torso). 2. **Regularity**: The shape, arrangement or depth of the wounds are consistent. 3. **Repeatability**: Old and new scars appear alternately in the same area. 4. **Behavioral signs**: such as avoiding exposed skin, abnormal emotions, and hiding tools (blades). --- ###**Precautions：** -To avoid directly determining self-injury based on scars alone, it is necessary to combine psychological state and overall behavioral assessment. -If a suspected situation is found, you should communicate in a caring rather than accusing manner, and it is recommended to seek professional help. The identification of self-injury needs to be cautious so as not to misjudge or exacerbate the psychological pressure of the parties concerned. If you have any concerns, you can encourage the other party to communicate with a counselor or doctor.