SeLf HarMIng

SElF HarMing

Self-harm happens when someone hurts or harms themselves. They may:


• take too many tablets;
• cut themselves;
• burn their body;
• bang their head;
• throw their body against something hard;
• punch themselves;
• stick things in their body;
• swallow inappropriate objects.



What makes people self-Harm?





Emotional distress – people often struggle with difficulties for some time before they self-harm:


• feeling depressed;
• feeling bad about yourself
• relationship problems with partners, friends, and family.

• How can I help myself ?
  When you want to harm yourself
  The feelings of self-harm go away after a while. If you can cope with your upset without self-harming for a time, it will get easier over the next few hours. You can:
  
• Talk to someone – if you are on your own perhaps phone a friend.
• If the person you are with is making you feel worse, go out.
• Distract yourself by going out, singing or listening to music, or by doing anything (harmless) that interests you.
• Relax and focus your mind on something pleasant – your very own personal comforting place.
• Find another way to express your feelings such as squeezing ice cubes (which you can make with red juice to mimic blood if the sight of blood is important), or just drawing red lines on your skin.
• Give yourself some 'harmless pain' - eat a hot chilli, or have a cold shower.
• Focus in your mind on positives.
• Be kind to yourself – get a massage.
• Write a diary or a letter, to explain what is happening to you – no one else needs to see it.
  



It can be very upsetting to be close to someone who self-harms - but there are things you can do. The most important is to listen to them without judging them or being critical. This can be very hard if you are upset - and perhaps angry - about what they are doing. Try to concentrate on them rather than your own feelings – although this can be hard.





Do..


• Talk to them when they feel like self-harming. Try to understand their feelings, and then move the conversation to other things.
• Take some of the mystery out of self-harm by helping them find out about self-harm perhaps on the internet at the local library.
• Find out about getting help - maybe go with them to see someone.
• Help them to think about their self-harm not as a shameful secret, but as a problem to be sorted out.