Self-harm is a growing and worrying trend. It is a frightening disorder, more common among women, in which pain and alienation are expressed by hurting oneself. There are different types of self-harm. Self-mutilation and various eating disorders are among the most common forms of self-destruction. These forms of self-harm often lead to suicide. There are three types of self-mutilation. The rarest and most extreme form is major self-mutilation. This form usually results in permanent disfigurement, such as castration or amputation of limbs. Another form is stereotypical self-mutilation. This usually consists of head banging, eyeball pressing, and biting. The third and most common form is superficial self-mutilation. This involves cutting, burning, pulling hair, breaking bones, hitting, interfering with wound healing, and pretty much anything that causes harm to oneself. It is almost unimaginable that someone could inflict harm on themselves. However, cuts, burns, cuts, stabs, and bruises occur while seemingly feeling no physical pain. Approximately three million Americans are believed to suffer from this psychiatric disorder. (Simpson) The very nature of this problem is shrouded in secrecy. Not surprisingly, it took some time for people to become aware of this growing problem. There are several theories as to why one engages in such behavior. A popular theory is that it is a control problem. There are also several reasons for the need for control. For example, when children are abused, they find themselves in an out-of-control situation. Their attackers can harm them at any time, and children are largely powerless to stop it. As your child grows up and faces stressful situations, it's easy to feel out of control. Often there is a strong desire or expectation of pain, because pain is associated with stress in that person's mind. People who have these associations imposed on them often cut themselves because they satisfy a psychological desire for pain. Not only is the desire for pain satisfied, but the pain can be stopped. The person is now in control. Another theory is that the person feels they deserve the pain as punishment. Abused children are often taught that they are bad people. Their abusers along with others denied that the child's experiences were valid. Some of these people resort to violence or criminal acts to get the punishment they feel they deserve. Most, however, cannot ask others to punish them, so they punish themselves with things like cutting themselves.