Question 1

Sexual Assault: A Rape Survivor&#8217;s Story

Accepted Answer

It is normal to feel many things after being raped, but there is hope. With emotional support, and appropriate medical and psychological treatment, people recovering from sexual assault can regain feelings of joy and can lead happy and healthy lives. It is possible to take your life back and you can walk in truth and freedom to fulfill your dreams and destiny." Read Sarah's story of survival and healing.

Question 2

How Can You Convince Your Friend to Stop Self-Hating?

Accepted Answer

People often hate themselves because of guilt, shame, and anxiety coming together in their hearts and minds. If your friend is struggling with self-hatred:
-Help them find the source
-Remind them how wonderful they are
-Think about what you would need in the same situation
Of course, you can’t control them or their feelings, but being there for them will likely lift their spirits. Just be sure to protect your own heart and energy along the way.

Question 3

Why Life Is Not Fair

Accepted Answer

Life is not fair. Here are 3 reasons why with advice on how to deal with it.
#1: Life is outside of your control
#2: Life rewards performance, not desire.
#3: Life allows multiple points of view.
Here is advice on how to cope with it.

Question 4

How Can I Deal with the Guilt of My Past Without Self-Harming?

Accepted Answer

The Bible says, ". . .there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2). Leaning on our faith in God, and getting support from people we trust to help us in our faith and with our mental health can help us heal from the pain of guilt and shame.

Question 5

How to Manage Mental Health Without Self-Harming

Accepted Answer

Finding a healthy distraction is key to stopping cutting or harming yourself. You could try:
- Taking a hot shower or bath to relax your muscles.
- Going for a walk, hike, jog, or run.
- Dancing and/or singing along to your favorite songs until you're feeling better. 
- Watching a funny show or video.
There are things you can do right now to break this harmful cycle.

Question 6

How Do I Help My Friend with Addiction Without Breaking Their Trust?

Accepted Answer

Having a friend with an addiction is tough. Their addictive behaviors cause them additional pain, because addiction does nothing to heal the pain that drives them to drink, use drugs, or harm themselves in other ways. Your support doesn’t mean you have to stop their addiction or make them complete their recovery. It just means you have to continue to be a true friend, as they always have been, so they know someone is there encouraging them in their recovery when things get tough. Here are some suggestions for how you can do that.

Question 7

What Can I Do if My Sibling is Cutting Themselves?

Accepted Answer

If you have a sibling cutting themselves, it’s completely understandable that you are fearful or concerned about their self-harm. I know it comes from a place of love, and I hope you see how powerful and meaningful that is. When you are ready to have a conversation with your sibling it is important to not judge or shame. Then ask a lot of questions and listen well.  Here are more ideas about how to have this important conversation and give you a greater sense of hope for your sibling, their well-being, and your relationship.

Question 8

What to Do if You Suspect a Loved One is Self-Harming

Accepted Answer

There’s not one right way to tell your friend that you're concerned about their possible self-harm. Here are two ways that might work:

“It seems like you've been hurting a lot lately, Would you like to talk to me about it?”
“I've noticed several marks on your arms and wrists. I care about you, so that worries me. Do you want to talk about it?”

If they acknowledge they self-harm, you can ask more questions but go slowly and respect their boundaries.

Question 9

Bible Verses About God Accepting Everyone

Accepted Answer

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) Have you ever thought, "God could never love me. I've messed up too bad. My sins are too big. I am too ashamed. I am too broken." But God says throughout the Bible that He welcomes everyone who comes to Him. The Bible is full of verses that talk about God accepting everyone.

Question 10

15 Ways To Distract Yourself From Self-Harm

Accepted Answer

If you struggle with self-harm, you can find healthy distractions right now:
If you cut or self-injure to express pain or intense emotion:
1. Try painting or drawing
2. Keep a journal to write about your thoughts and feelings
3. Write a poem or song
Get more tips for stopping the urge to cut right away.

Question 11

The Toxic Name I Lived By—and How I Broke Free

Accepted Answer

Low self-esteem can happen for a variety of reasons. If you've been through a painful experience, your self-esteem can suffer. Sometimes it can be a single conversation that really makes you feel down in the dumps. Other times, traumatic experiences in your childhood or younger years can have negative effects on your self-esteem that don’t seem to go away. Read how Tim's 7th grade year completely stripped him of his self-worth.

Question 12

Don&#8217;t Lose Hope In Tough Times. There Is More.

Accepted Answer

When you're losing hope, it's not always helpful to have someone tell you what to do or explain where you went wrong. You need someone to listen, to be there for you, and to remind you that you were created for a purpose. I rediscovered my sense of hope in a dark time by talking with a HopeCoach.

Question 13

Red Flags, but Married Him Anyway

Accepted Answer

Some people get divorced because abuse makes them feel unsafe. Others feel trapped by their partner’s addiction. Perhaps there has been infidelity in the relationship. Whatever the reason, divorce can be devastating for everyone in a family. Make sure you have the support you need. If you don’t know where to turn, start with TheHopeLine.  Jewel did. Here's her story.

Question 14

I Can&#8217;t Let a Broken Heart Break My Life

Accepted Answer

I can't let a broken heart break my life. There is a choice between giving in to my pain or giving it all to God. I choose the second. I decided to let God give me the strength to endure my moment of pain, to let God walk with me in my darkest time, to let Him hold my hand and show me the way to deal with my brokenness.

Question 15

Breaking Free from Self-Harm

Accepted Answer

You get there one day, one moment, at a time. You get there, not by resolving to last for however long without messing up, but by submitting in your heart to give up your will and your way and to run to God in every pain and bump that you face. You walk hand in hand with Him, moment by moment, day by day, and then one day, you stop and look over your shoulder in amazement.

Question 16

Consequences of Cutting

Accepted Answer

"Having someone tell you to stop cutting is one thing. Hearing about the real consequences of cutting from people who struggle with self-harm is another. They experience:

1. Paralyzing, Emotional Pain
2. A Body Full of Scars
3. A Sick Web of Addiction

Are you addicted to cutting? You can get help to find healing from self-harm today."

Question 17

Resisting the Urge to Cut Yourself

Accepted Answer

Sometimes resisting the urge to cut or harm yourself can boil down to finding a healthy distraction when you feel that urge:
- Call a friend or meet them in person. 
- Take a shower.
- Exercise 
- Play with a pet. 
- Watch television or a non-violent, healthy movie.
- Make yourself a sandwich, drink a glass of water or a cup of hot chocolate.
Get more tips at TheHopeLine.

Question 18

How to Deal with Anxiety: EP 20

Accepted Answer

Anxiety is an overwhelming feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about a looming event or something with an uncertain outcome. Having some anxiety is normal but for others, it becomes so frequent, and forceful, it takes over their lives and affects their ability to function. In this podcast episode, hear real advice about how to overcome and cope with anxiety.

Question 19

Bible Verses About Hurting Yourself &#8211; Find Hope

Accepted Answer

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) Self-harm can steal your health and cutting destroys your happiness. There are many Bible verses that remind us how much God loves us, and how trusting in Him can bring us peace, hope, and healing from self-harm.

Question 20

Recovery from Addiction

Accepted Answer

Getting rid of addiction is more of a journey than a one-time decision, and it requires a support network that can encourage you as you decide each day to not use addictive substances or engage in harmful addictive behaviors. It takes courage to admit that you struggle with addiction, but talking about it is an important first step. You can visit a local support group (like AA or Narcotics Anonymous) for in-person support.

Question 21

Help, My Friend Is Cutting

Accepted Answer

It's natural to want to help a friend who is cutting or harming themselves, but you can't just throw out facts and figures and think a cutter is going to be instantly convinced to stop. That's because the reasons why people cut are complicated, cutters are usually covering up a deeper emotional pain. Here are some ways to think and talk about cutting with your friend.

Question 22

Why Do People Cut Themselves?

Accepted Answer

"It's natural to wonder why people cut themselves. Everyone's situation is different, but here are some common reasons

- Covering an Even Deeper Emotional Pain from Trauma or Abuse
- Covering or Acting on Self-Hate
- Trying to Express or Release Intense Emotions They Can't Talk About
- To Avoid Dealing with Emotions That Scare Them or Cause Them Pain

You can get help to stop cutting yourself, starting here."

Question 23

What Happens To Your Body When You Cut Yourself?

Accepted Answer

It seems that self-harm or cutting have become as popular as drugs or alcohol as a way to try to cover pain. Cutting also seems to be destroying lives in the same way as other addictions do. Knowing what cutting does to the body is a first step for many on the road to recovering from self-harm.

Jasman’s Story: Self-Harm

Self-Harm – Defining the Problem

I Was Going to Self-Harm

My Night Started With Cutting

Pain Inside I Couldn’t Deal With

Stay Strong

What to Do if You or a Friend is Self-Harming

A Door of Hope for Cutters

Saved by Grace

She Struggled with Cutting and Anxiety

Stories of Why People Cut Themselves?

Self-Harm

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