How to beat a self-harming addiction?

Sort of makes me think things must have been pretty intense far back at times, probably many. Sometimes our parents, mothers try to do things they can't and end up with messed up children. The tensity of the life of the mother usually portrays one of extremities and at that probably made the life inside one of turmoil and strife if not worse. Of course we have no control over this as children trying to grow up with reality as it is, nobody ever wants to discuss these things openly so we are left with having to guess our way as to the whats and whys of our behavior. I can just imagine what it must be like for an infant that has survived an abortion attempt with a coathanger. That is why we make it legal.