Self Harm | Mental Health
*Trigger warning*: This post touches on various details about self harm. If this is an issue that could trigger any harmful emotions or upset, please do not continue to read the post x
Hello everyone!
I hope you've all had a very merry Christmas! I cannot believe it is now 2017, and you will not be able to believe how much content I have planned for you guys...
This is going to be my first post as the mental health/lifestyle blogger for The Lucky Truth Girls Group and I am so excited to get started. Today, we are going to be discussing self harm. In this post, you will able to learn about what self harm is and involves (in case you have any personal concerns, or concerns for a friend), types of self harm, ten things to do other than self harm (distraction mechanisms) and helplines you can contact if you are worried about yourself, a friend or loved one.
*DISCLAIMER*: This post has been written by myself, using my own perspective and experience on the issue. I am not a professional, and if this is an issue that you are concerned about PLEASE speak to a GP and seek immediate help. I am purely here to provide friendly guidance and to listen to you, rather than offering health advice.
And now, It's Time to Talk...
I know self harm, to many people, may seem like a bit of a dark topic to start the new year with. But this is a mental health blog, and it's also a very real issue that affects 400 in every 100,000 people in the United Kingdom. This is the highest rate within Europe. Self harm, depression and anxiety do not discriminate. These issues do not say "Hey it's Christmas/New Year let's cut him/her some slack". It is a day to day battle.
The different methods of self harm that people use are very overlooked. Many people assume it is just cutting, binging and purging. But there is more to it then meets the eye. Here are some methods you should know about if you have concerns for yourself and loved ones. Please do not act on these methods, they are here for identification purposes so you can identify the signs, help yourself and/or those around you:
At the age of fourteen, I began to self harm in a variety of ways. It was a really dark part of my life, and I will admit that it was a really hard thing to stop doing and took some hard work, time, support and professional help. One thing that my counsellor did, which really helped, was give me a really long list of different alternatives to self harm. These methods were used, when I felt extremely low and wanted to harm myself. However, none of them caused me any physical pain, but actually took my mind away from self destructive thoughts and were fantastic for distracting me from injuring myself, whilst also allowing me to vent.
Hello everyone!
I hope you've all had a very merry Christmas! I cannot believe it is now 2017, and you will not be able to believe how much content I have planned for you guys...
This is going to be my first post as the mental health/lifestyle blogger for The Lucky Truth Girls Group and I am so excited to get started. Today, we are going to be discussing self harm. In this post, you will able to learn about what self harm is and involves (in case you have any personal concerns, or concerns for a friend), types of self harm, ten things to do other than self harm (distraction mechanisms) and helplines you can contact if you are worried about yourself, a friend or loved one.
*DISCLAIMER*: This post has been written by myself, using my own perspective and experience on the issue. I am not a professional, and if this is an issue that you are concerned about PLEASE speak to a GP and seek immediate help. I am purely here to provide friendly guidance and to listen to you, rather than offering health advice.
And now, It's Time to Talk...
I know self harm, to many people, may seem like a bit of a dark topic to start the new year with. But this is a mental health blog, and it's also a very real issue that affects 400 in every 100,000 people in the United Kingdom. This is the highest rate within Europe. Self harm, depression and anxiety do not discriminate. These issues do not say "Hey it's Christmas/New Year let's cut him/her some slack". It is a day to day battle.
The different methods of self harm that people use are very overlooked. Many people assume it is just cutting, binging and purging. But there is more to it then meets the eye. Here are some methods you should know about if you have concerns for yourself and loved ones. Please do not act on these methods, they are here for identification purposes so you can identify the signs, help yourself and/or those around you:
-Cutting skin-Preventing wounds from healing-Burning or scalding oneself-Hitting oneself intentionally-Piercing skin-Starving oneself-Substance Abuse-Chain Smoking-Consuming toxic or poisonous substances-Punching things or throwing self against walls and hard objects-
(with reference to helpguide.org)
It is very challenging to identify which method of self harm your friend or loved one maybe using. It is hard in itself to try and get someone to openly talk about it and seek professional help. Here are some warning signs to look out for, so that you can nip the issue in the bud together and begin a speedy recovery...
Physical Evidence of Self Injury: Burn marks, cuts and deep wounds. It's important to note that when asking the person who is self harming how these marks appeared, that they may have thought out some excuses to address your questions with. It's important that you acknowledge them, but keep observing for these injuries. Also, make sure they know you're available to talk to and stay calm. That way they will be more likely to confess to you that they need help.
Blood stains on clothing: Again, ask questions but don't quiz them too heavily. You need to appear calm so that they are able to trust and confide in you.
Isolation and irritation: Those who self harm may want to spend a lot of time alone, and can become irritated if you continuously insist they spend all their time with you or groups of people. Allow them to spend time alone, but ensure they are safe and that you are able to check on them. Also let them know that you are always available if they need to vent.
Continuous low mood: This is usually the starting point of self harm. By identifying patterns of low moods and self esteem, you will then be able to help them harness these feelings and seek appropriate help before self harm becomes a coping mechanism.
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- Write an angry letter/diary entry: The perfect way to vent and let out your feelings. You can be as messy as you like, just be completely honest and write exactly how you're feeling. Don't read it back to yourself. Completely destroy it. You can do this more than once, until you feel all these negative emotions disappear.
- Take a really long bath/shower: Soothe and bathe all the areas of your body you were thinking of harming, with some quiet music (or maybe loud if you like!), have some chocolate and relax yourself. Find something to focus on. Count the bubbles in the bath, find something you can smell, feel and hear. Focusing on anything but your emotions will allow you to drown them out.
- Body art: Draw where you wish to harm and turn it into pretty art with pretty pens and be as creative as you wish! You are then marking your body without implementing physical harm.
- Focus on your senses: A common emotion within those who self harm is the desire to feel less numb. Find different materials in your house to manipulate and focus on. Make cornflour and mix it with water, rub ice along your arms, find different soft materials and focus on their texture.
- Make a crisis box: I will be doing a post on these at some point this month. A crisis box is something you create and prepare for when you feel like you want to self harm. These boxes should contain activities and objects which can distract you from wanting to harm yourself. Contents you might want to include are magazines, bath bombs, some chocolate, a soft toy and anything you feel will comfort you.
- Phone a friend: Anyone at all, as soon as you begin to feel depressed and the urge to self harm. Your friend will listen to you, provide distractions through conversation and you may even want to invite them round for a bit of company and security.
- Play some really loud music: And dance like no one is watching, as energetically as you can! Some cheesy nineties pop will definitely do the trick. By dancing energetically, your body will begin to release endorphins. You will then notice your mood lift significantly!
- Write a list: This could be a wish list, a gratitude list. Or, in order to make you feel more positive about yourself, think about your qualities and write yourself a letter about why you love and admire yourself, listing all of your achievements. Have faith in yourself!
- Allow yourself to cry and scream: It is ok to cry and not be ok. Be noisy, cry for as long as you want to and can. This will also allow you to vent and release any negative emotions you have.
- Call the Samaritans (find number in helplines below): If you really cannot cope with your emotions and have tried different distraction mechanisms, your best bet is to phone a helpline. The Samaritans is a line where you can talk to a trained advisor about anything that is bothering you and a variety of mental health issues, and they are always equipped with the best advice! I have had a phone call with them before when I was absolutely desperate and came off the phone feeling absolutely wonderful. They really are amazing!
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And that concludes this post, my lovelies! Below, you will be able to find some helplines you can call at anytime where you feel you need a professional to listen to you. If you are experiencing issues with mental health and self harm, I urge you to contact your GP or a counsellor so that you can get the right help that you deserve!
Samaritans:
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
NSPCC for Under 18's: 0808 1111
HopeLine UK – 0800 068 4141
And if you ever need a girl to girl chat, I'm ALWAYS here for each and every one of you gorgeous people with friendly guidance. I will listen to you and try and help to the best of my abilities!
Have a safe and healthy new year
Liv xo
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