Nonsuicidal self-injury rapid but temporary relief from disturbing thoughts, feelings, and emotions. For approximately 90% of patients, NSSI decreases symptoms, most commonly untenable anxiety (“It’s like popping a balloon”), depressed mood, racing thoughts, swirling emotions, anger, hallucinations, and flashbacks. 6, 7 In some instances, NSSI generates desired feelings and self-stimulation during periods of dissociation, depersonalization, grief, insecurity, loneliness, extreme boredom, self-pity, and alienation. 8, 9 NSSI also may signal distress to elicit a caring response from others or provide a means of escape from intolerable social situations. 10 Table 1 lists factors associated with NSSI.