Self-harm is a growing and troubling trend. It is a frightening disorder, more common in women, where suffering and alienation are expressed through hurting oneself. There are several types of self-harm. Self-harm and various eating disorders are among the most common forms of self-harm. These forms of self-harm often lead to suicide. There are three types of self-harm. The rarest and most extreme form is major self-harm. This form usually results in permanent disfigurement, such as castration or amputation of a limb. Another form is stereotypical self-harm. This usually involves head banging, pressing on the eyeballs, and biting. The third and most common form is superficial self-harm. This involves cutting, burning, pulling out hair, breaking bones, hitting, interfering with wound healing, and basically anything that can harm oneself. It is almost unimaginable that a person could inflict harm on themselves. However, cuts, burns, slashes, stabs and bruises occur while seemingly no physical pain is felt. It is estimated that nearly three million Americans suffer from this psychiatric disorder. (Simpson) The very nature of this problem is shrouded in secrecy. It's no surprise that it took a while for people to become aware of this growing problem. There are several different theories as to why people engage in such behavior. A popular theory is that it is a control problem. There are also several reasons why monitoring is necessary. For example, when children are abused, they find themselves in a situation of lack of control. Their abusers can hurt them at any time, and children are largely powerless to stop it. As a child grows up and faces stressful situations, it is easy to feel out of control. There is often a strong desire or expectation for pain, because pain is associated with stress in that person's mind. People who have had these associations imposed on them frequently cut themselves because it satisfies a psychological desire for pain. Not only is the desire for pain satisfied, but the pain can be stopped. The person is now in charge. Another theory is that the person feels they deserve the pain as punishment. Abused children are often taught that they are bad people. Their attackers and others denied the validity of the child's experiences. Some of these people resort to violence or criminal acts in order to obtain the punishment they believe they deserve. However, most cannot ask others to punish them, so they punish themselves by cutting their teeth..