Self injury is the term that describes someone intentionally harming themselves. Some signs that this may be happening to you or a friend include:
- Intentionally harming yourself, sometimes to the point of breaking skin, bruising, bleeding, or having marks which last more than an hour
- You find that harming yourself is a way of dealing with feelings which are uncomfortable, like “I’m useless at everything” or “I don’t matter to anyone”
- You find that harming yourself is a way of stopping yourself thinking about situations in life that are difficult – like divorce, abuse, alcoholism, or anything else that would want to make you ‘escape’ from the situation
- Feeling an urge or desire to harm yourself, even when you are quiet and calm
If you believe that any of the above scenarios could be you or someone you know, it is important to recognize that self-injury is a problem, but there is help and hope.
It is important to know that your life matters (yes, yours), that you count, and you can make a difference in this world. You do not need to harm yourself or any other person. You are important and you are valued. You do not deserve to put yourself through pain.
You are not alone. There are many others who have gone through self-injury and have found a way to live a happy, healthy and fulfilling life and take care of themselves. If you want to stop cutting, check out our article “I want to stop cutting”
Remember that you are important. Your life counts, and you can make a difference in this world. If you ever need to talk about this or anything else, feel free to get in touch with us. We’re here for you.
