Hitting yourself purposely and repeatedly can be a form of self-harm or nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Left untreated, it can pose a serious threat to your health, safety, and overall well-being.
While self-harm isn’t a mental health condition on its own, it’s often associated with conditions like depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and some personality disorders.
Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapy can help you manage self-harm.
When a person purposefully and repeatedly hits themselves, it can be a form of self-harm* or nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). The effects of this form of NSSI can range in severity. But left untreated, it can lead to significant physical harm.
We don’t know exactly how many people engage in hitting as a form of self-harm. But research shows that NSSI, in its many forms, seems to be most prevalent among young people and people receiving psychiatric care. One study found approximately up to 20% of adolescents will engage in NSSI at some point in their lives, and it typically occurs when someone is around age 13 or 14. NSSI appears to be less common among adults, affecting approximately 6% of the adult population.
If you don’t have prior experience with self-harm, it can be difficult to understand. You might wonder why someone would purposefully hit or injure themselves. For example, some people may repeatedly hit themselves or even engage in behaviors like hitting their head against a wall when they feel overwhelmed. Taking the time to understand the underlying causes of self-harm can help you recognize the signs and offer meaningful support — to yourself or someone else. Therapy can provide support and strategies to help manage self-harm and build healthier coping skills.
*The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 confidential support through trained crisis counselors. If you or someone you care about is experiencing emotional distress, self-harm, or a suicidal crisis, please call or text 988. For life-threatening emergencies or immediate assistance, call 911.
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Does hitting yourself count as self-harm?
We all accidentally injure ourselves once in a while. We might mistakenly grab a hot pan from the oven, stub a toe on a hard surface, or trip and fall. But these behaviors, while potentially painful, aren’t the same thing as self-harm. The difference is that these behaviors are accidental and not intended to relieve emotional distress.
Self-harm occurs when you intentionally harm yourself as a way to cope with difficult feelings, emotions, or situations. Here are some examples of how hitting might manifest as self-harm:
You keep making errors at work, so you hit yourself as a form of punishment, believing you deserve it for making “stupid” mistakes.
When you’re in crowded, noisy spaces, you get extremely overwhelmed. You use hitting as a way to cope with sensory overwhelm because it’s something you feel like you can control.
As a child, your parents modeled that it wasn’t safe to express your feelings. So when uncomfortable emotions bubble to the surface, you hit yourself as a way to release them.
You often feel nervous in new social situations, worried that you’ll do or say the wrong thing. After a recent interaction in which you thought you accidentally insulted someone, you hit yourself as a way to express your embarrassment.
You struggle to regulate your emotions — especially anger. When you sense that your temper is about to flare, you hit yourself to avoid hitting someone else or damaging property.
Recognizing these patterns is an important first step toward change. With the right support, healthier coping strategies can replace self-harm, helping you manage emotions in a way that fosters healing and self-compassion.
Why you might hit yourself sometimes
People hit themselves for many different reasons. For some, it's a way to cope with emotional pain or stress. For others, it may happen almost automatically during moments when they feel angry, frustrated, sad, stressed, upset, or overwhelmed. Understanding what’s behind the behavior can be an important first step toward finding healthier ways to cope.
Some common reasons include:
Intense emotions: Feelings like anger, shame, fear, or frustration can become so strong that hitting yourself feels like a release
Control: During stressful or overwhelming moments, hitting yourself may feel like one thing you can control
Sensory overload: Some people, especially those with autism, may hit themselves when they become overstimulated by loud noises, bright lights, or other sensations
Past experiences: Trauma, abuse, or growing up without healthy ways to express emotions can affect how someone copes later in life
Mental health conditions: Self-harm can happen alongside some conditions
No matter the reason, hitting yourself is a sign that you may need more support. A mental health professional can help you understand what's behind the behavior and find healthier, safer ways to cope.
Is self-harm like hitting a mental health condition?
On its own, self-harm isn’t a mental health concern. But it’s associated with conditions like:
Self-harm behaviors like hitting may also be more common among people who:
Experienced childhood trauma such as abuse or neglect
Have low self-esteem
Have friends who self-harm
Harmful effects of hitting yourself
It’s important to remember that hitting yourself isn’t a sign of a personal weakness or a character flaw. It’s typically an attempt to cope with stress, self-soothe, or regulate emotions.
However, repeatedly hitting yourself can cause serious injuries. Depending on the force and frequency, it may lead to bruises, cuts, broken bones, concussions, or, in severe cases, brain damage. If you have a head injury or lose consciousness after hitting yourself, seek medical care right away.
Beyond the physical risks, self-harm can also affect your emotional well-being and daily life. It may increase feelings of guilt, shame, or hopelessness and can make it harder to maintain healthy relationships, succeed at work or school, and cope with everyday stress.
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Strategies to prevent hitting yourself
While not a replacement for professional help, here are some strategies you can use to prevent hitting yourself.
Distract yourself: We might think of distraction as a bad thing. But in the case of self-harm, it can help you focus on something else when you’re tempted to hit yourself. For example, you could try going for a brisk walk, listening to some music, or calling a friend when you feel the urge to hit yourself.
Stop and wait: Sometimes, delaying self-harm can help to curb the behavior. So rather than trying to eliminate it all at once, see if you can wait a few minutes. Then slowly increase the time you wait (for example, start with five minutes and then go to seven minutes).
Understand your triggers: Try to reflect on the feelings that arise right before you’re tempted to hit yourself. Consider what you’re trying to achieve by engaging in self-harm. For example, do you hit yourself to relieve anxiety? Express shame? Unleash anger? Knowing your triggers can help you identify when you might need support to choose a safer behavior.
Practice self-compassion: When you feel like you want to hit yourself, stop to think about how you might treat a friend in this situation. You’d likely offer support and compassion, not judgment or criticism. See if you can start to treat yourself in the same way.
Getting support for self-injury and hitting
Although it’s not a mental health condition, self-harm can be treated. With the right support, people can reduce the urge to hit themselves and manage the underlying emotions that might be driving the behavior.
Some of the most common treatments for self-injury include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT can help you recognize and interrupt unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and learn new coping skills.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): DBT can help you regulate overwhelming emotions, increase distress tolerance, and increase self-compassion.
Psychodynamic therapy: This form of therapy can help you understand how past experiences might be shaping your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the present. These insights can help you make positive changes and reduce self-harm.
Currently, there’s no FDA-approved medication to treat self-harm on its own. However, medication may be prescribed to treat related mental health concerns like anxiety or depression. It’s important to work with your provider to determine if medication is right for you.
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I approach treatment with empathy and patience, helping clients first understand the emotional triggers behind their urge to hit. Together, we work on building healthier coping strategies, such as grounding techniques, emotional regulation skills, and self-compassion, while also addressing any underlying mental health concerns through therapy. The goal is to empower them to replace self-harm with more effective ways of managing distress over time.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
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When a person hits themselves as a form of self-harm, it’s often an attempt to manage emotional pain or reduce stress. Although this behavior might be confusing to other people, it’s important to know that it’s often a sign of a mental health condition and not a conscious choice.
Left untreated, self-harm can seriously impact a person’s health, safety, and overall well-being. So if you or someone you care about is hitting themselves, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. With the right support, people can overcome the urge to self-harm and learn healthier ways to manage uncomfortable emotions.
At Rula, we’re here to help you feel better. Rula makes it easy to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who takes your insurance. That way, you don’t have to choose between great care and a price you can afford.
Rula patients pay about $15 per session with insurance, and 93% say they feel better after getting care through Rula. We have 21,000+ providers, and appointments are available as soon as tomorrow. We’re here to help you take the next step — wherever you are in your mental health journey.
Many Rula therapists accept major insurance plans, which can help reduce out-of-pocket costs. Explore providers who accept:
Liz Talago
Liz Talago, M.ed. is a mental health professional turned content writer and strategist based in the Detroit metro area. As an independent consultant for mental health organizations, Liz creates meaningful connections between brands and their audiences through strategic storytelling. Liz is known for championing diverse perspectives within the mental health industry and translating bold ideas into inspiring, affirming digital experiences.
In her free time, you can find her hiking with her two German Shepherds, puttering around her dahlia garden, or spending time with her family.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
