Cutting / Self Mutilation

What do I do: If I have been intentionally injuring myself?

1. Bring your secret out of the darkness. Find someone that you can trust to talk about it. Don’t expect them to understand all that you are experiencing because they probably will not fully understand at first. This does not mean, however, that they cannot help. Be patient with them just like you need them to be patient with you.
2. Look for alternative ways to express yourself. Probably you injure yourself because you don’t know of any other way to deal with your stress. Remember, just because you don’t know of any other good way to deal with your stress does not mean that there is not another good way. Some people find keeping a journal to be very helpful. Talking about the stress in your life can be very helpful as well. You may find expression in art, sports, or writing music.
3. Don’t give up. Because self-injury can give you a momentary “feel-good” it is frightening to even think about stopping. Nobody wants to give up something that gives them comfort or relaxation. Deciding to stop harming yourself is not an easy decision, and once you make the decision the road before you may still be a long one. You might even experience setbacks on the way. When you do, don’t let guilt set in, but keep working to overcome the self-injury and that hold that it has on your life.
4. If you have been dealing with self-injury for very long you may need to seek out the help of a professional counselor. Let’s face it; if you could stop this thing on your own you probably would have already done so. It is not shameful to seek our professional help.
5. For support, call the HopeLine (1-800-394-HOPE) to talk or visit www.dmlive.com to chat with a live person.