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Does self harming behaviour run in families ?

16 Answers
Last Updated: 07/24/2018 at 1:12am
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United States
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Melissa Strauss, LPC

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I am client focused and believe everyone has a strength. I feel confident in seeing clients with generalized and social anxiety, depression and relational goals.

Top Rated Answers
TaranWanderer
April 25th, 2017 6:03pm
Self-harm itself is not something that could be 'passed down' through families, but it is possible that related issued that may bring someone to self-harm could. There could also be a link to perhaps seeing a family member self-harm and a person's own decision to self-harm as well. But it is not really something that can run in a family, in the way that, say, hair loss does
Anonymous
July 24th, 2018 1:12am
It could, because self-harming tends to start from depression and anxiety, which does run in families.
helpfuldot
May 11th, 2015 4:03pm
Self harming behaviours can be genetic or they can come about based on the situation that you are going through or a combination of both.
Teddy522
April 25th, 2017 5:25pm
It depends on what triggers the self harm, if it`s family issues then there is a higher risk of more than one person in the family self harming or developing mental health issues. Also the stress of one family member self harming may influence another to self harm. What ever causes self harm, it`s important to know that there is help and support available, and you can always talk to a listener here at 7 cups. One of my top tips for when you feel the urge to self harm is to draw on the area of skin that you want to self-harm until the urge has passed. Speak up and stay safe, remember there`s no shame in getting help.
Anonymous
July 3rd, 2018 5:08pm
Human behaviour (in general) is very often influenced by a person's immediate surroundings. Self harm can also often be quite addictive, and addiction is often recurrent within families.
PoetaSinVersos
January 16th, 2015 4:47pm
I don't think self-harming behaviour runs in families, not like it is kind of blood-disease. Self-harming comes with problems in life, and maybe the fact that family won't listen to you contributes to it.
ItWillBeOkaySarah
May 26th, 2015 11:35pm
No, but depression does, and that can influence your decisions on self-harming. So, family influences it but is not from it.
Anonymous
July 6th, 2015 5:56pm
It can but mostlyIt developed over a period of bad expiriences. Like bullying, family stress and many more.
spoopyhooty
November 3rd, 2015 2:09am
Self harming behaviours do not run in families as a genetic code. Or in a person's DNA. What may run in families might be chronic. You may call it a 'vulnerability' or more likely to have depression or anxieties. Genes that we inherit from our parents determine many things about us such as our gender and the color of our eyes and hair. Our genes also determine which illnesses we may be vulnerable to at some point in our lives.
wahmaka
April 19th, 2016 3:52am
There may be certain aspects such as a genetic predisposition and other environmental factors that make you more prone to self-harm. Only to a certain extent would self-harm run in families.
Angelynn
May 23rd, 2016 1:48pm
Self harm itself is not inherited from your parents. However, certain disorders that can lead to self harm are. Anxiety disorders, depression and BFRB's are more likely to be present in children of people that have these conditions.
Oliviahere
May 24th, 2016 7:52pm
It can run in families. Often times Anxiety, Depression, etc. runs in the genes of family. Which can definitely lead to more. If you hear stories of family or friends that cut, often times you will think of it as a getaway as well.
Anonymous
January 24th, 2017 3:14pm
No it doesn't in my case. It depends on how do you take things in your view because you can be optimistic or pacimist
ColdWinterNights
February 2nd, 2017 9:14am
To give you a short answer: It's very possible. As kids, we look up to our parents. They're our best friends when we're younger. When we get older, and understand the world more and more; you could find out that a parent or relative is harming themselves because they could be sad, lonely, angry, or any negative mindset. When we're teenagers, this seems like the end all to problems. When we see people we look up to doing things, we want to do those things too.
Anonymous
April 4th, 2017 3:43pm
I do not believe the behavior runs in families. I believe it stems from the individual and their surrounding relationships. With experience, I can vouch that for me it was stemmed from self-esteem and the relationships I've had.
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2018 2:51pm
I don't think so, every human has a different way to cope with things and or coping skills don't get passed down, unless it's learned behavior