Self Injury
You are not alone in your struggle with self-injury. Maybe you do it when you're feeling alone, numb, scared, vulnerable, depressed, angry, melancholy, etc. Maybe you think about it all the time. Maybe it's one of those things that you do once in a great while and find tremendous relief from it. Self-injury can be addictive and often times it is a repetitive behavior. Most people who injure themselves don't want anyone else to know what they're doing, let alone to see the scars from it. In any case, please know that you don't have to be ashamed of hurting yourself. Many people struggle with this as their only way to feel connected to the world around them. Self-injury is quite dangerous and doesn't have to be your only available outlet. If you are one of these people, please talk to someone and get help. You don't have to keep hurting yourself.
According to S.A.F.E.
Self-injury is also termed self-mutilation, self-harm or self-abuse. The behavior is defined as the deliberate, repetitive, impulsive, non-lethal harming of one's self.
Self-injury includes but is not limited to:
1) cutting
2) scratching
3) picking scabs or interfering with wound healing
4) burning
5) punching self or objects
6) infecting oneself
7) inserting objects in skin
8) bruising or breaking bones
9) some forms of hair-pulling.
These behaviors, which pose serious risks, may be symptoms of a mental health problem that can be treated.
Next Steps
Please talk with a friend or family member. Share with them where you are at in your life and the struggles that you are facing. Being open and honest with someone is the most important step to recovery.
You can begin this process by clicking on Live Help and talking with one of us. We also hope that you'll read an article, watch a video, or simply see something on this site that encourages you to get help.
Share your story with others. Email us your story, create a video for heartsupport and upload it to the site, and begin telling others about your life and the journey you are on. You are on a journey towards wholeness and we believe that sharing it with others is not only good for you, but good for other people to hear as well.
How it controled me
Rie (14), abilene, texas
I am 14. I was really happy growing up and I was loved by everyone. When i hit bout 5th grade i started hating me and wishing i was different. I never liked me and hate who I was. In 6th grade I became a slut. I never had sex and i never kissed a boy until the second semester but i still had way to many boyfriends. I did it cuz it made me want the attention. My grandpa had cancer. He was my only grandpa and he meant the world near my 12th birthday he died. I was torn apart and cried nearly everyday but i did it when no one wass around. I changed. I hate me even more. I slowly started cutting. I never thought my life would ever get better and i knew it wasnt. When summer came I did it way more and it made me feel like nothing mattered. School started again and i still cutted and loved it. I did it bout everyday and never wanted to stop cuz it was the only way to escape besides suicide. I always thought of suicide but never did it. 8th grade came and i still cut but now i did it just to do it was a habit. No one knew i did this and i thought no one cared. My aunt died and we had to go to San Angelo for the funeral. I as changing in the bathroom of the hotle and my mom walked in and saw my cuts. She cried for bout 30mins. the she left and told my dad. I was the perfect child till this happened, then it screwed everything up. That way the worst way for my mom to find out cuz we were in San Angelo for a funeral. I cried but somehow i felt like cutting. I told my mom and dad i stopped but i didnt. At church one day i was there and we were talkin bout sin and how our sins hurt God. Then i felt useless. I had sinned and hurt me but more importantly i hurt God. I told my parents myself and i never went to counseling but i went to God instead. I havent cut in bout 1 month. It is hard but i am getting threw this. There is times when all i want to do is cut but i know i cant
