BLADES BLOOD AND BANDAGES THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WHO SELF INJURE (H/C)

DRAWING ON THE EXPERIENCES OF 25 PEOPLE WHO CUT, BURN OR OTHERWISE INJURE THEMSELVES, THIS BOOK EXAMINES THE TABOO PHENOMENON OF SELF-INJURY. OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE, THE AUTHOR PRESENTS THE PERSPECTIVES OF INDIVIDUALS, USING INTERVIEWS, DIARIES AND POETRY TO EXPLORE ISSUES OF CAUSATION AND SUFFERING, STIGMA AND RITUAL. THE BOOK USES AN ORIGINAL THEORETICAL CONCEPT - THE 'TRAJECTORY' OF SUFFERING - TO EXPLAIN PATTERNS OF SELF-INJURY, FROM 'CAUSATION', 'ON-GOING' INJURY TO 'POST' INJURY. IT FINISHES WITH AN EXPLANATION OF THE SOCIAL FACE OF SELF-INJURY, THE STRUCTURAL INFLUENCES OF POPULAR CULTURE AND THE INTERNET ON SELF-INJURY.