National Self Injury Awareness Day (March 1)

[skysprite 0]

At the encouragement of another dz.commer, I wanted to share with you guys a letter I submitted to my campus newspaper. I really hope that it gets printed. But even if it doesn't, why not tell the countless people who read and post here because that means there are that many more people aware of a growing problem.

---------------------------------------

In recent years, self injury, or causing deliberate harm to oneself, has
become more and more of a problem among people, but especially adolescents and
young adults. March 1st is National Self Injury Awareness day, a day to
promote awareness and understanding of this issue.

About 1-2% of the people in the US use self injury as a way of coping during an
emotionally difficult time. The forms and severity of self-injury vary, but
the most commonly seen behaviors and methods of self injury are cutting,
burning, and head-banging. Some who self injure say it helps them feel better
temporarily because it gives them a way to physically express and release the
tension and the pain they hold inside. Others say they’re convinced that
hurting themselves produces chemical changes in their bodies that make them
feel happier and more relaxed. Some self injure to “punish” themselves for
whatever reasons. Most self injurers that I know say they self injure because
words can’t express how they feel.

Many who self injure will not talk about it because of the shame they feel
over their behavior. They wear long sleeve shirts in the middle of summer in
order to cover their cuts and scars so people won’t look or ask questions.
Very little is known about self injury, and there is so much stigma attached
to it. Some self injurers have sought therapy to discover answers to their
behavior. Unfortunately psychological treatment has not helped for many who
hurt themselves. Self injury brings out uncomfortable feelings in those who
don’t do it and don’t understand it, including medical professionals. Many
self injurers have told stories of therapists ignoring self injury out of
ignorance, inexperience, fear, anger, or feelings of disgust. One fellow self
injurer spoke of how she was told she must stop cutting or risk being sent to
a psychiatric ward or hospital. The deeper emotional issues weren’t addressed
at all by this therapist. As a result of this inability to get help, self
injurers feel even more alone and scared than before.

I encourage all people to educate themselves about self injury. Research it and talk about it
to your friends and family. This needs to be a time for any self injurer who
may be afraid to seek help to come forward and get the help they so
desperately need. Awareness, acceptance, support, and prevention are asked of
all people at this time, and National Self Injury Awareness Day is a day that
everyone can come together in support and understanding of all who struggle
with this problem.

~skysprite

[Daizey 0]

Thank you so much for posting this...Ive been learning a bit more about this topic lately and though i know i will never truly understand it like those who are experiencing will, its nice to be able to have a little bit of an insight on the topic....

Up until recently i only knew one person who self injured...it killed me to see him go through so much pain...caring for a person and watching them go through this, knowing there is nothing you can do or say that will help is really difficult...i was only about 14/15 at the time....now that i am older and know others who are cauht in this viscious cycle, i am much more curious to learn more...Ive never been involved personally with self injuring, but i do have some ways in which i can relate to those who are...

Ok, so anyway, thank you for posting this....and to others, know the signs to watch for....its not always arms that are cut either....the one guy i knew cut his ankles so it was easier to hide...and if you do know anyone who is stuck in it...give all the love and support you can

*daizey*

[Kramer 0]

Nice post. This is a subject that does not get a lot of attention, kinda like a quiet monster in society or something. Thanks for sharing!

The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!!

[skysprite 0]

Quote

....now that i am older and know others who are cauht in this viscious cycle, i am much more curious to learn more...Ive never been involved personally with self injuring, but i do have some ways in which i can relate to those who are...

I'm actually reading a book on the subject right now and so far it's a pretty good book. If you want to know more, check out A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain by Marilee Strong.

Also I haven't seen or read it, but I've heard that Bodies Under Siege: Self-Mutilation in Culture and Psychiatry by Armando R. Favazza is a good one too. Supposedly that's the one that started opening some eyes in the late 80's.

~skysprite

[Chute 0]

Yeah I started to read it but damn near cut my finger off with a paper cut.

Bottomless Beers and Blue Skies!

* Brother_Brian *
D.S.W.F.S.B. #2

[Nightingale 0]

bump

[skysprite 0]

Sheesh. In a forum where *vibes* posts are so common, I would have thought this thread would have gotten a few more replies. (Thanks to those you have replied - both for your comments and for the bumpage. Daizey - I'm sorry about that guy you know/knew. My half brother self injured so I know what it's like to have to stand by and watch, knowing there's nothing you can do.)

Anyway, have people seriously never heard of this problem? Is it too uncomfortable to reply and/or spread the word?

~skysprite

[Daizey 0]

Since its today i thought i would give this a bump

*daizey*

[Misslmperfect 0]

i had a CLOSE friend in jr high and high school who i found out later was a cutter. i knew her for almost 2 years when 1 night when i was over at her house, she walked out in shorts. her chins looked like tic tac toe boards. all up and down the front and back, just covered with scars. when she did wear shorts, and that was rarely, she always wore knee high socks. i just thought it was the way she liked to dress. id never seen anything like that, she refused to talk about it, and a few months later she left that school, got sent somewhere, and i never saw her again. it blew my mind how well she hid it. she had a good family, LOTS of friends, she was involved in all kinds of sports and extracurriculars.....you just never know whats going on inside a persons head. i think its great that people are trying to raise public awareness about this. i have a feeling a lot of parents dont even know this exists....that it could affect their child or their child's friends. i would think that a lot of people feel alone in this. its not something anyone talks about, and maybe they dont realize they're not the only ones? hopefully it will be easier soon for everyone who needs it to get some help.

Oh Canada, merci pour la livraison!