Self-injurious Behavior (SIB) has many names and there are several creative ways to accomplish this. A person will use self-injury to take focus away from negative feelings about oneself and the world as she perceives it. Self-abuse, though intentional, is done without a death wish.

Three types of Self-mutilation

Superficial or moderate
This is the most common form of self-abuse. People might choose to use cutting, burning, scratching, skin-picking, hair pulling, bone-breaking, hitting, purposely doing too much physical activity until they get injured, not allowing a wound to heal, and so on.

Stereotypic Self-injury
When self-abuse comes to mind, most of us think of people banging their heads against the wall over and over. This and other similar forms of self-injury are typical in autistic, mentally disabled, and psychotic individuals.

Major or severe self-mutilation
This is an extreme form of self-abuse in which people disfigure themselves. Castration (cutting off the reproductive organ), amputation, and enucleation (removal) of the eyes are rare forms of self-mutilation and are usually done on an impulse. People are typically in a psychotic state when they use this form of self-abuse.

Some add a fourth form of self-harm to the list:

• Socially accepted self-abuse
• Excessive body piercing, tattooing, and ear or nose stretching

Who self-injures?
A person's age, education, gender, race, religion and financial situation have little impact on whether a person will engage in self-injurious behavior. There are certain events however that contribute to the likelihood that someone will self-abuse.

• History of or current eating disorder, substance abuse problem, mental, sexual or physical abuse, psychological help through therapy or hospitalization
• Family and friends don't show the necessary love and support the individual needs
• SIB generally begins during the adolescent years, is at its worse during the 20s and gets better once a person reaches his or her 30s 
• Poor communication skills

Males vs. Females
Some researchers think since society finds it acceptable for men to display their anger, they get their feelings out and don't have to use methods of self-harm. It's hard for females to repress feelings, and since they aren't supposed to show fits of anger, they harm themselves to handle their internal pain.

Dangerous Cycle
Like taking drugs, people who use self-injury as a way to handle traumatic and/or overwhelming feelings or memories can build a tolerance and dependence. At first, pulling their hair could offer relief from emotional tension. When that stops working, they need to find another method of self-inflicted pain to ease their suffering. If self-injurers feel like they are no longer in control of their lives or behaviors, a last resort to ease pain could be suicide.

In addition, a person could make a cut too deep, or ingest too much household cleaner and die by accident. Individuals with eating disorders or substance abuse problems can intensify the problem, leading to more dangerous acts of self-mutilation.