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It is hard
When you want to explain
Something you don't even understand
Yourself.

It is hard
and coping seems so difficult
so you cut yourself
to relieve the pain

To make it more tangible.

But cutting is not the way. Simply it is not.
There are other avenues available
And it will be difficult to stop

But you are stronger than you seem
Throw the knives away and stop
When the pain get too hard...

...Cry
...Scream
...Punch a billow
...call a friend
... see your counsellor
... relax
...breath.

Step back and think about what you are doing
Everytime you want to draw your own blood.

Think before acting
You must do this yourself, to save yourself.
I wish you well, I send you love.

But the power lies in YOU

No one can save you but you.

Take Care
Debbie./

Written by Deleted_User, 7. Dec 2007 02:39 PM

I have come to realise that nobody who hasn't self harmed will ever understand it. They may think they do, but it is simply not possible to understand the despair and pain that leads to it unless you have felt it.

Even though they may not be empathetic, they can be sympathetic. I know how hard it is to open up to people, but even if they don't really understand why you would do it, a shoulder to cry on and a big hug can do wonders.

Something they taught us in DBT was that an impulse or desire to self harm is just a thought. A thought is not a fact, it is just a thought. A thought is not true and a thought cannot hurt you. A thought WILL pass. You just need to trust that it will pass and you will get through it. When I was told this, I rolled my eyes and thought something along the lines of 'what complete and utter bullshit', but it is true. The distress doesn't subside as quickly as it would if you cut, but it does subside, and you don't have to deal with that lovely self-hate and scars that usually come with self-harm.

Something I found that helped was when I felt an impulse I thought 'OK, so I want to cut myself. I'm just going to do something else for a minute. If I don't feel better, then I can still cut'. After that minute, I tell myself I will wait another minute. That is how you get through self harm, one minute at a time without ever thinking about the minute that's coming up or the one that's just been.

Be strong, be brave, I know you can do it. Big hugs

Written by babz, 7. Dec 2007 04:31 PM

Winterrain

DD and Babz are both right and I thoroughly agree with the two of them. You have to be a harmer to understand harming. People please keep trying to help us harmers but don't take offence if we say to you, you don't get it.

Go Winterrain!!!

Studying1

Written by studying1, 7. Dec 2007 09:45 PM