Seeking Resources on Self-Mutilation

I'm selecting materials for a general-readership anthology about self-mutilation. If anyone here knows of any good resources on this subject – books, essays, articles, personal narratives, websites, blogs, organizations, etc., let me know!

“Self-mutilation” here is being defined very broadly, including cutting, burning, bruising, and similar kinds of self-injury – but also body modification activities not typically defined as mutilation, i.e., tattoing, piercing, plastic surgery, compulsive dieting/exercising, etc.

Thanks!

Mary

     permalink

Re: Seeking Resources on Self-Mutilation

More, Now, Again

A Memoir by Elizabeth Wurtzel

Author of Prozac Nation and Bitch

This woman writes like Stevie Ray Vaughn plays. How can you get that stoned and not find God?

     permalink

Re: Seeking Resources on Self-Mutilation

Cool, Ramsses – thanks for the heads-up!

     permalink

Re: Seeking Resources on Self-Mutilation

Hi Mary

You got me a little curious, so I've been looking around YouTube for videos on this subject…there's some really harsh stuff out there, showing graphic self-mutilation images seemingly for shock value alone; but here's one that shows a certain amount of insight and is worth checking out:

Understanding Self-Injury

The video shows a link to a website that looks like it might have some good info:

http://www.lifesigns.org.uk/

On a more personal note, when I was young I used to punch myself hard enough to be doubled over in pain - evidently that is on the low end of the self-abuse spectrum. In my case it appeared to be an acting out of self-hatred. At other times I would smash bamboo trees or other vegetation that grew near my house, or punch my bed or other inanimate objects – I once punched a hole in my bedroom wall. The feelings appeared to be very similar, but directed inward or outward.

spiral out,
arthur

     permalink

Re: Seeking Resources on Self-Mutilation

Excellent, Arthur – a compelling video and an informative website. Thanks.

I don't know if punching one's self would necessarily be considered “low end” self-injury – being doubled over in pain sounds pretty serious! But there truly is a wide spectrum of such activities. Through my preliminary research I discovered that even compulsive pimple-picking and scab-pulling (which I have done!) could be considered a form of self-injury.

As a result of Ritalin addiction, the writer that Ramsses mentioned above used to tweeze the hair on her legs until she reached bone.

Okay, I'm not trying to gross people out or anything. I just never really knew about this stuff …

Learning,

Mary

     permalink

Re: Seeking Resources on Self-Mutilation

Mary, I just read The Good Body, by Eve Ensler. (After that thread he started, I got interested and he bought it for me for Christmas.) It was a bit different than I thought, and by your definition, there were several women in that play who were self-mutilating. It's also an incredibly quick read.

Liz

     permalink

Re: Seeking Resources on Self-Mutilation

Thanks – I'll definitely have to check that out.

     permalink

Re: Seeking Resources on Self-Mutilation

If you're brilliant and on top of your game and you smoke yourself into an early grave, sabotaging your marriage along the way by acting out kinky sex fantasies, and whispering on your deathbed, “a small talent for brilliance,” does this qualify as self-mutilation? I bought both The Diaries of Kenneth Tynan edited by John Lahr and More, Again, Now by Elizabeth Wurtzel in hardback and on sale for dirt cheap at the same time in Ottawa a couple of years ago. I can't think of a single book I've read since quite as fascinating.

     permalink