For many people, self-harm feels like an outlet or a relief. For others, it is a physical expression of internal pain and feels like a mirror of the mind. Some examples of self-harm are cutting, burning, over-exercising, hitting oneself or hitting a hard surface repeatedly for the pain, scratching, piercing the skin with a sharp and narrow object, or pulling hair out for the sensation, and even thoughts of suicide. Particularly among young people, self harm is an explosion of emotions not yet understood or under control while for adults self harm tends to be a response to the call of the void. Whatever the reason, self harm is a temporary solution that will make things harder in the long-run.
If you self-harm or feel the urge to self-harm, speak with a trusted adult and remember that your brain can lie to you; you are in control of your body, you are not unworthy of the love given to you, there is no shame in your pain, there will always be someone to listen to you, the pain will not make it better, there is always hope. Self-harm, like any mental health issue, is never the fault of the sick person, it is the product of genetics, brain chemistry, and circumstances.
