Why would it feel good for anyone to hurt themselves? Self harm like cutting or burning oneself is a maladaptive coping mechanism seen in many different disorders; though, a study was done to identify how the brain was affected by this behavior in those with borderline personality disorder. People who have borderline personality disorder have trouble regulating their intense emotions. They also show higher rates of self harm (than those with other disorders), which may help them control their emotions. To test this theory researchers presented pictures to induce negative, positive, or neutral affect and induced thermal stimuli to create pain caused by heat. They tested subjects with and without borderline personality disorder. In response to the pictures that created positive and negative emotions, subjects with borderline personality disorder showed heightened activation of the limbic circuitry system and amygdala. The thermal stimuli that induced pain reportedly inhibited amygdala activation in subjects with the disorder and in healthy ones. By suppressing the amygdala, the pain that people feel from harming themselves may be suppressing emotional activity which causes them to feel a relief from emotional stress.
Written by Lisa Drake
Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100830114953.htm
Image: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/
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