Bulletin Board Post

Addiction

I Do Self-Harm

<div class="ExternalClass5B64D1A5105248B79934B7AC834919CD">I do self harm and I need someone to talk to. </div>

<div class="ExternalClass92945D2753584E0BA2D0A396982E0E93">You did the right thing by reaching out. Talking to someone who cares can be a good disrupter of self-harm. Any time you have those thoughts, stop and think about what might stop you in the moment. Removing items you harm with would be a great first step. Whether you learned this from a friend or tried using it yourself, it rarely solves anything and just makes you feel worse once it is done. Can you share what you do to harm yourself? A more important question would be are you harming yourself to end your life or to cope with your emotional pain? Most people self-harm as a coping skill, but it is not a healthy one. You could harm yourself more than you intend to, have to explain embarrassing marks, or even scare some friends off who worry too much about you. Some other good disrupters would be writing your thoughts out, doing a clean-up task, painting your nails, or going out for a short run. Other saving graces could be ways to relax like taking a nature walk, doing light stretches while you think of something positive, or listening to relaxing music. If that urge is overwhelming, try snapping a rubber band on yourself, holding cold ice on yourself or even drawing a non-permanent word like hope, joy, or smile where you typically harm yourself. You will feel a physical pain, but not a life threatening one. It is a sign of strength when you ask for help. You can find so many more ideas here on the YLYV Website. Go to Tips under Self Injury and Self Esteem. Both would have some good tips for you.<a href="/Pages/Self-Injury-Learning-To-Ride-The-Wave.aspx?Topic=Self-Injury">Self Injury: Learning To Ride The Wave (yourlifeyourvoice.org)</a> <a href="/Pages/tip-How-to-Use-Coping-Skills.aspx?Topic=Coping%20Skills">How to Use Coping Skills (yourlifeyourvoice.org)</a> Consider calling the Boys Town National Hotline 800-448-3000 for support, there are crisis counselors who can talk to you about the self-harm. Please keep safe. The call is free and help is available 24/7. Sincerely, Laura, Crisis Counselor </div>

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