Is it normal my gf hits herself when shes upset ?

I've been with my girlfriend for almost two years now and I can't understand why she does this, but every time shes upset because of something she did she starts hitting her leg/head and she scares me when she does it and I try to stop her but she keeps going. she gets bruises sometimes from hitting too hard. sometimes if shes next to a wall, she'll bang her head against it. i try my best to reassure her and stop her from doing it and shes okay after, but why does she punish herself like this? is there a way i can stop this from happening because im scared of her hurting herself too bad if im not there to stop her.

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  • Ascelin

    This is one form of self harm. The most popular form is cutting oneself, but it's not the only one. People also burn themselves, pull out hair and scratch themselves. It's often used as a coping method for when someone feels that their life is out of control; it's a way for them to take back a tiny bit of control. It's also used to cope with depression, almost as a less drastic option than suicide. It releases endorphins in the brain that kind of make you feel numb, forget the emotional pain for a minute while you only feel the physical pain, and this is what can make it addictive. It's also used by those with extremely low self confidence as a way of punishing themselves for a perceived error since nobody else is, or to punish themselves before someone else can. The last option seems to be more common in those that have psychological issues stemming from their parent's actions during the sufferer's childhood. No matter what the cause, though, it should be taken seriously. I recommend telling her that you care about her and that it hurts you when she hurts herself. It gives them more confidence, reassures them that someone cares, and gives incentive to break the habit.

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