Hey folks! *Waving*
TheTeenDreamers are here with another Helpful (hopefully) Blog!

So today's topic is Self-Harm!

Ever heard of self-harm?

What is self-harm?

Why people do self-harm?

What's the cause of it?

What can we do to prevent self-harm as much as we can?

No worries! We are going to discuss all this here.

• Self-Harm or Cutting

Injuring yourself, purposely by any object can be called Self-Harm/Cutting. Be it Blades, razors, glass, nails even pen etc.

Some people even use lighted (lighten) candles, cigarettes too to hurt themselves.

• Why they do this?

The answer can be bit difficult for us to understand.
Some of them do self-harm to pleasure themselves, some for escaping reality, some for trying to escape the feeling of emptiness or void (of something or someone).

• Cause?

It's cause can be anything related to their past, intense pressure (of work or something else maybe), broken relationships, triggers, lack of awareness, toxic relation(s), mental instability, etc.

Cutting is sometimes (but not always) associated with depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obsessive thinking, or compulsive behaviors. It can also be a sign of mental health problems that cause people to have trouble controlling their impulses or to take unnecessary risks.

• What do they get/gain from it?

Again, it's answer can be bit difficult to tell. But according to what I have searched about it, can be escape (for them) from:

1. Past Trauma

2. Tension

3. Numbness

4. Express/communicate their pain
And many more reasons can be there.

By cutting/burning themselves, they are able to refocus their attention on the pain of the cut and for a short while, experience relief from the trauma of past.

We're all familiar with the idea that it is painful to experience pain sensations. What people may not realize is that it is also painful to not feel anything.
Some of them will self-injure so as to generate a strong sensation that is capable of bringing them back to feeling something again. 

People who self-injure as a means of communication may be doing it to draw attention to themselves (e.g., as a means of calling for help, not unlike a suicide attempt), or they may simply be trying to document to themselves that their internal experience of pain is valid and worthy. Some people who have been abused or neglected may not take their own emotional pain seriously until it has been rendered as physical damage.

When self-injures get overwhelmed and that introjected perspective takes over and then the need to self-punish as compensation for being such a bad person gets expressed. Sometimes this need is expressed physically, through actual self-injury.

Now

Now

Now

If you saw someone self Harm what should you do?

• Avoid Judgement (don't judge the individual or the situation)

• Seek understanding (Try to understand their situation before taking any step)

• Be supportive (Not in a way to encourage them but to tell them you are their for them, in their tough times)

• Don't dismiss (Please don’t dismiss or ridicule their actions)

• Don't ask for promises (dont ask them to promise that they won't do self harm ever again, it can be overwhelming for individual and also risky for their mental health and can worsen the situation)

• Try to be accepting and normalize (you don’t have to tell them they’re right) how they feel as people cope differently, and gently encourage them to seek help. You can gently help them understand that this behavior is not working for them and offer to get help.

◆ Symptoms of Self Harm, we most likely to ignore ◆

• Isolation

• Putting everyone's need before yours

• Eating too much or too little

• Allowing toxic people in your life.

• Putting yourself in risky situation.

• Scratching

• Avoiding going to doctor

• Sabotaging Important relations

• Drinking or eating something, purposely you are allergic too.

• Overspending (can be of anything)

Etc..

● Treatment

Well, Self-harm isn’t something that can be fixed overnight. Treating a self-injury behavior takes time and hard work. But, with the right support, recovery is possible.

• Evaluation by a mental health professional (to find out what their reasons for hurting themselves are and what emotional difficulties they’re experiencing.)

• Physiotherapy or talk therapy (to help address and manage underlying issues and learn healthy coping skills. Therapy may include individual, group or family sessions.)

• Medication (can help treat an underlying mental illness, such as depression or anxiety, but there are no FDA-approved medications that specifically treat those who self-harm.)

● Alternatives of Self-Harm

• Think about what you want to become in coming future.

• Nurture your Hobby(s)

• Spend time with family/friends (not toxic tho)

• Try writing journals

• Try to learn cuss in different languages (lmao)

• Meditation

• Try to Express yourself .

Etc..

So That's it!

I don't know how much helpful it was, but yeah I tried to include as much information as I can.
Hope it was helpful!

Picture credits- Pinterest and A_Girl_Lost_In_World
Thank you very much! ❤️

If there are any questions you may ask, we'll try our best to Answer all your questions.

Love Love,

Regards

#TheTeenDreamers