self-harm awareness month

Self-harm. Honestly, it’s a tough topic to talk about, but one that needs addressing. So many kids, young adults, and adults struggle with this and many times it goes unnoticed. According to The Recovery Village, “About 17% of all people will self-harm during their lifetime”, did you know that? 

Self-harm is anything that harms or damages your body and includes anything from cutting to hitting. March is self-harm awareness month, March 1st being the official awareness day, and it gives me a sense of support knowing there is finally some awareness being brought to this topic.

This unhealthy coping mechanism is something that can, very honestly, help manage pain and distress when it comes to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and many other psychiatric conditions. 

Many people who know someone who is working through their self-harm journey aren’t exactly sure how to support their friend or family member. Being very truthful, one of the most supportive actions you can take is simply listening. It can be frustrating when people say “just stop” or “why are you doing this?” Listening to someone explain what they are feeling and how they are coping can be more impactful than you know. 

In all honesty, I have my own self-harm journey, and it isn’t pretty. It was a secret for many years and I couldn’t bring myself to talk to anyone about it, except for my therapist. It’s also an unfortunate fact that those who suffer from this are very good at hiding it, so it can be hard to spot. I was one of those people. 

As I’ve gotten older and been through a long and torturing mental health journey, I slowly started opening up about my depression, anxiety, treatments, and more. But, I haven’t exactly opened up about this part of my life, and I think it’s time. I won’t go into too much detail but self-harm was a coping mechanism to me for a while. 

November 14, 2023, a date that doesn’t mean anything to most, but it’s everything to me. This was the day I self-harmed for the last time. I have been clean for exactly 477 days. My sobriety from self-harm has become one of my proudest achievements and I’ve gotten to the point where I’m not ashamed to share my story and days clean (very scary and anxiety-provoking still). 

Another matter with self-harm is the scars that you are left with on your body. Most who battle this are left with permanent scars on their arms, wrists, legs, or other body parts. I have them, and it is a reminder of what I used to do, but changing my perspective, I learned that it can also be a reminder of how far I’ve come and the work and effort I have put into stopping, for good. 

Alright, now that you know a lot more about me and my journey, if you are struggling with this personally, my line is always open. I know that it can be helpful to talk to someone who has been through it before, and you are not alone, and you will reach the day where you stop. Everyone has their own journey, and it’s not shameful if you need others to help you through it. Here are a few resources to help or share.

1-800-366-8288: S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Self-Abuse Finally Ends)

Text CONNECT to 741741: Crisis Text Line

1-866-488-7386: The Trevor Project

988: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

k…now rage