There is a book about that, referring to it as "Trauma Reenactment Syndrome." I could be mixing things up, but I think the name of the book is "Women Who Hurt Themselves." It's by Dusty Miller. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/046...918369?ie=UTF8 Amazon has a couple of copies of the old edition (which is the version I've read) from other sellers for like 16 cents.

The book covers self injury, eating disorders, addictions, and other ways that we cope by harming ourselves in some way. I thought it was really good.

Rap