title: Desire to survive emotional pain related to self-harm: a Norwegian hermeneutic study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore and interpret women's desire to survive emotional pain related to self-harm. Women who suffer from borderline personality disorder describe emotional pain as intense. Previous research indicates that self-harm is a way of obtaining emotional relief and offers an escape from unwanted emotions, thoughts, and/or distressing situations. An explorative, interpretative design was employed. The data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with a sample of women resident in Norway suffering from borderline personality disorder and were analyzed using a hermeneutic approach. The findings revealed one main theme, self-sacrifice, and two other themes, self-harm (a struggle to be relieved of responsibility) and a fear of intimacy versus intrusion. This study indicates that self-sacrifice appears to imply a longing for reconnection with the self and others. To preserve their self-image, the women require courage to survive the painful state of unworthiness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Education, Stord/Haugesund University College, Haugesund, Norway. anne.holm@hsh.no
authors.forename: Anne Lise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Severinsson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D011573:Psychoanalytic Interpretation; D012649:Self Concept; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012934:Social Isolation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology