Overcoming Self-Harm
I began cutting when I was 13 years old. At first, it wasn’t something that I could see myself struggling with. I put the razor down almost immediately and realized that it wasn’t for me. As my depression worsened, however, I picked up the razor again and became addicted to hurting myself. It made me feel better when I thought about suicide and it became a part of my everyday life. Now, at 20 years old, I no longer cut and I’ve been self-harm free since December 2014. I’ve proudly watched my scars fade and my confidence soar as I no longer relied on self-harm to cope with my depression. Everyone has the ability to beat self-harm, but in order to do that, we first need to understand what self-harm is, why it happens, and what you can do about it.
What is self-harm?
Self-harm is the act of purposely injuring yourself in order to cope with negative emotions. The most common form of self-harm is cutting but it can come in other forms as well, such as scratching and burning.
Why do people self-harm?
Those who self-harm tend to engage in the activity because they find themselves experiencing emotions that they do not know how to handle. The pain caused by self-harm releases endorphins that may give the person a rush or a slight feeling of happiness. Typically, people who self-harm have not developed any healthy coping mechanisms and use this unhealthy coping mechanism to deal with their issues.
How can I stop it?
If you find yourself cutting or engaging in any other behaviors that involve injuring yourself, reach out to those closest to you for help and support. They will be able to help you receive the help that you need in order to overcome the cycle of self-harm. In the meantime, there are plenty of other activities that you can engage in in order to prevent yourself from self-harming. These include:
1. Exercising
2. Drawing on your skin with markers when you feel like self-harming
3. Placing ice on your skin when you feel like injuring yourself
4. Screaming into a pillow
5. Writing down your thoughts onto a piece of paper and then tearing it up
If you don’t enjoy any of these activities, there are plenty of other resources online that will be able to give you more ideas. The purpose of these activities is to allow you to develop healthy coping mechanisms and to prevent you from hurting yourself during the times when you feel like you need to do it most. A strong support system is also necessary in order to overcome self-harm. The stronger the support around you, the better the chance of recovery.
Most importantly, if you’re feeling suicidal and if you feel as though you pose an immediate threat to your safety, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1–800–273–8255 or contact 911 if you are planning on making or have already made an attempt on your life. Remember, you are important.
