Self Harm

Why Self-Harm?

I know that every person may harm their body in some way to find an inner peace. Some people smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, take pills they do not need, have sex with several different partners, or in worse case scenarios they physically cut or scratch their bodies out of hysteria. I know that every one is different with different varieties of stress they must deal with every day, but some people are weaker than others. I usually do not recall exactly why I would claw or cut up my body? Maybe it was a silent way of crying out for help! I do not pride my past one bit, and I still have problems with emotional control. I am always paranoid that I have upset someone. When I would do some thing wrong, I would then in some sick reasoning punish myself with a cut, to help myself remember that what I had done was wrong. Now, that I look back on these actions, I think to myself, what was I doing! The scars are still present from my actions of tormenting myself, and I do sometimes feel embarrassed if someone seems to be starring at those scars. I must also answer to my kid's questions as well! This can be very challenging to answer! There are a variety of reasons why a person may choose to self-harm.

Coping Skills

There are many different coping skills to notice when trying to avoid this sick ritual. Some coping skills include crying, talking to someone, drawing your feelings, relaxing techniques, praying, and medications! I say crying is a wonderful way to release pressure without harming your body. I will sneak off away from everyone and just scream into my pillow while crying! Of course, I don't want my children to hear me so I do muffle my cries.If that doesn't work then I move to my next step which is praying about my experiences to God, and then I find someone I can trust to talk to about my problem. My person is usually my husband and my therapist. Not everyone may have a person that they can trust to talk to on the spare of the moment, so you can also call a hot line for help! Usually if you are experiencing the linger to harm yourself, you should consider finding a wonderful councilor or therapist to speak with. If you feel that you do not have the money, then remember there are organizations out there that will help you for free! I have went to the Emergency Room several times for this problem, and I do not know about all countries, but in the USA, it is the law that they must help you. Usually they will direct you to an organization that is very cheap or free that will work with your financial situation!

Another way that I deal with my stress is to draw or write what I feel down on paper. These drawings can be quite scary for some to view, therefore I usually draw a person to focus on something positive while dealing with my pain. Some relaxing techniques I use for relief is lighting my aroma candles all over house such as lavender scents, playing some mellow music, and dimming the lights for some common physical and mental releases! This really does help me, though it may sound absurd! Medications that are prescribed to me also help in my worse case scenarios! My doctor prescribed me Colonapin (anti- anxiety pills for my issues), to help instantly relieve stress physically. I try not resort to taking a pill for my problem, so I use all of my other techniques learned first before I swallow down a pill for my issue. Every one must find ways to relieve stress that works for them because what may work for some does not always work for another.

Now that I think about it, I have discovered some other ways you can help deal with stress, but you should really consider talking with a professional about your problem. I have learned that you can cope with the issue you are having, but you really need to find the core of the problem. What could be triggering the whole problem in the first place. Usually something has happened in your past that you suppressed. Suppressed means that you hid away your problem, never actually facing it. For example, a person that has been abused in any way, may suppress their feelings and never actually face the harm that was done to them. I know that my abuse as a child was never dealt with until the last few years, due to feeling that the abuse was brought upon me because I had done some thing wrong to deserve it. It is easy to see a problem from the outside, but it is not so easy to see clearly when the cloud surrounds you itself! The councilor can see the cloud clearly and with small steps helps to reach your hand and pull you out of that dark cloud that is blinding you!

Why Should We Discuss This Topic?

We should let others know in a realistic measure the understanding that we have learned about self- harm.

This could allow people that are within the mist of that dark cloud to see some type of light to the misery that they bring upon themselves! I know that it is so hard to stop any self habit of harm to your body, but it is even harder to stop self harm within your brain! When your mentally putting yourself down, then eventually it can become physical! In most cases everyone has done some type of self-harm to themselves! Whether it be smoking, drinking, cutting, starving themselves, or even worse suicide! I pray that everyone can become aware of this very popular issue because you may not even realize that your punishing yourself! I know that within my sick way of thinking, I thought that I was doing the right thing! I just hope that we can help all generations understand the importance of this issue, and help put a stop to self- harm! May we help all people suffering and have a very clear open mind and heart when possibly dealing with someone that is presenting behaviors of dangerous self-harm. You never know that person may actually be yourself.