Self Injury Awareness
There are many ways that people might struggle throughout their journey with mental illness. One of those may be engaging in self harming behaviours. These behaviours can be scary for others and the individual struggling. Here is some information that may help guide your understanding of self harm as a whole and how to help someone you love or yourself.
What is self harm?
Self harm is a form of injury done to oneself on purpose. There are many different ways that an individual can cause harm to themselves. This does not necessarily mean that you will be able to see the effects on the body. Self harm affects many different groups of individuals including teens, individuals struggling with mental illness and people who use self harm to cope. There are many different reasons to which an individual's may self harm. Self-harming behaviours may also occur as a form of stress release to some as a way to help aid painful emotions inside by harming the outside of the body.
Signs of self harm
There are many things you might notice in an individual who is self harming. These could be unexplained injuries that they have recently sustained,covering up their body even in temperatures that do not warrant it, or having scars that may be also unexplainable. Individuals who self harm might not be scared to share that they themselves are experiencing these behaviours. These signs can help you if you are worried about someone you love or know struggling. Behaviours shifting from the norm for this individual withdrawing social more signs of stress.
Ways to support individuals with self harm
Finding out someone is self harming may be shocking news and may lead you to have emotional responses. Being able to comfort the individual who is experiencing the urges from self harm is very beneficial. Trying not to have a poor emotional response is important. Once you have processed the knowledge of a person in your life self harming there are some ways that you can help generally speaking. Avoiding judgment of the individual instead taking time to listen and hear them out. Learning more about self harm yourself on self harm can help ease your mind on the situation occurring and help you support an individual. Next, giving some tools for individuals but not demanding they stop right away. Taking the time to discuss some options with the individual to seek professional help if they feel ready. Lastly, not changing your own routine or way of interactions with this individual based on the new knowledge you have received continues on like you normally would with some of these supportive tips.
Positive alternatives for self harming
There are many alternatives that you could help the individual when having the urge to self harm. Firstly, it is a technique where you shock the body with cold; splashing cold water on your face, ice pack on your forehead, holding an ice cube till it melts. Secondly distraction includes doing something that the person might enjoy; spending time with a pet, physical activity, watching something funny, self-care. Another area that you can do with the individual or give as a suggestion is locking up their tools for self harming, alternatively freezing or taping the tools. One last general positive alternative would be letting the individual know or knowing yourself that reaching out is always an option for them.
Resources:
https://keltymentalhealth.ca/blog/2020/02/alternatives-self-injury