We want you to know that you are not alone and that we would be happy to talk to you on the phone, in person or through e-mail. Please feel free to contact us! We are not professional counsellors but are able to listen and direct you to professional agencies. We walk along side you during your tough times.
Whether you’re dealing with a past trauma or facing overwhelming issues in
everyday life, you may have turned to cutting yourself or other self-harm as a
way to cope with your problems. Whatever the reason, there is help—and
hope—available. Cutting and other self-injury may make you feel briefly like
you’re better able to handle life again, but then the pain returns without any
permanent recovery.
You can end this dangerous cycle by learning safer, more healing ways to deal
with your problems. There are professionals who can provide treatment, and ways
you can help yourself. You have the power to find healthier ways to manage your
pain.
Understanding cutting and self-harm
Cutting and self-harm are often ways to express deep distress and cope with
painful memories. And although you may want to stop, you may not know how to
begin. Understanding why you self-harm can be a vital first step toward your
recovery. If you can figure out what function your self-injury serves, you can
learn other ways to get those needs met—which in turn can reduce your desire to
hurt yourself. Once you better understand why you self-harm, you can learn ways
to stop self-harming, and find resources that can support you through this
struggle.
Getting help for cutting and self-harm: The road to recovery
It may seem like it’s impossible to get out of the cycle of self-harming, but
there are ways you can help yourself stop. The road to recovery may be bumpy,
but with self-reflection and help from a friend or professional, you can reach a
healthier destination.
The first step: Deciding to stop
For many people that self-harm, recovery begins with the decision that you
want your life to change.
- Ask yourself why you want to stop. Examine your motivation
for quitting self-injury; this way, you will be able to remember why you stopped
as you go through the healing process. - Decide when you will stop. Setting a time to quit self-injury can help you mentally prepare for the change; be realistic and reflective about this start date.
The second step: Confiding in someone
It can be scary to talk about the very thing you have kept hidden, but
opening up to someone you trust is an important step toward recovery.
- Find the right person to tell. Deciding whom you can trust
with such personal information can be difficult. Try finding someone who isn’t
going to gossip or take control of your recovery, and someone with whom you feel
at ease. - Just say it. Instead of putting off the conversation
because it’s not the “right time,” pull your trusted confidant aside or use the
phone—and go ahead and tell them what’s going on. - Set boundaries. You don’t have to show the person your
injuries, or answer any questions you don’t feel comfortable answering.