Self Harm-the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Most people associate self harm with cutting but it can be any form of intentional self destructive behavior. I’ll be specifically discussing cutting for the majority of my posts but self harm is not limited to that. For years, I struggled in secret, cutting whenever I needed that release but my self harm started long before I cut. I was damaging my mind. My thoughts were dark and weighed heavy on me, so much so that I found cutting to be my only relief. At the time I didn’t know the war I had started within myself. I would say the ugliest things to myself and eventually I became consumed. I lost the good parts of me to cutting and i’ve spent years slowly rebuilding from the destruction. The way we think or who and what we allow in our lives can destroy us mentally. Everyone won’t be covered in scars but we are all battling something so we must remember to combat the negatives with positives. Self harm can be physical or mental but neither should be ignored. I hate to sound like a PSA but truly reach out if you or someone you know is struggling. I’ll leave a few resources down below and feel free to chat with me.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
Self Harm Text Line- Text HOME 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor
