10% continue into their adult lives. You can be helped.

Did you know that one in twelve people self harm during their teenage years?


Doesn't seem like a lot does it? It is.

Think of it this way. You know twelve people, don't you? Imagine that. Based on these figures from the BBC in 2011, there's a high chance you know someone who is, or has been, the victim of self harm at some point in their lives. That's something you may not have thought about, or ever considered at all, but the numbers are worrying. It's unfortunate, but so many young people are going through things that people don't take the time to learn about. That's not your fault. So many people who do experience self harm don't tell people.

It's not a way of attention seeking.

I'm not here to bombard you with facts and figures about self harm. Of course I want people to understand more of it and learn about it. I don't want it to be a subject which people avoid and don't talk about. I certainly don't want it to be something which people judge about, and I even more certainly don't want those experiencing it to feel like they can't talk to people.

See, self harm is not a good path to go down. Many people don't understand just how much a person may be suffering. At the end of the day, however, self harming won't make it better. Sometimes it helps in the moment. It may release the emotion you've been holding in for so long, or it may give you something else to focus your mind on. It may take away the emotional pain because physical pain is easier to deal with. But it's not the better way to deal with it. There are far many more ways which are so much healthier for you, or your friend, or neighbor or family member, or anyone who is going through self harm, to get your emotions out. Self harm only leads you down routes you really don't want to find yourself on.

Take for example writing. Not everyone likes to do this but it can be an extremely effective way of expressing emotions which are hard to express verbally. You may not be very good at writing, whether it be poetry, stories, or even a diary, but it's YOUR place to vent. Don't worry about how good it sounds or now neat it looks. Scribble if you need to. Write words that make no sense. It doesn't matter. Be you. Isn't it better to scribble down some rubbish rather than hurt yourself? I'd say so.

Similarly, why not draw a picture? It doesn't have to be of anything you're feeling; it could be of anything. If you like to draw, or even just doodle, use this to take your mind away from the way you feel. It can help you escape reality and enter the world if innovation and creativity, and that's far better than putting yourself in even more pain than you're already in.

I won't go into detail about what else you can do. It's your mechanism for coping, and it doesn't matter what it is just as long as it's safe. However, self injury is something serious. You may not think so, but it is. If this is something you're going through, talk to someone. Tell a family member, or tell a friend. Tell a professional. Get yourself some support. Don't let yourself be alone. Feeling lonely can be one of the worst things to subject yourself too when pain is already an issue. And anyway, you're not alone! Remember that so many people have been where you are now, or you were once. It's nothing that can't be helped. You can get through anything if you put your mind to it. A little bit of extra support isn't going to hurt, is it?

One in twelve. It's scary. But it shows you're not on your own. You don't deserve to be hurting. You are one beautiful and strong individual, and I know that you can make it through this. I don't know you, but I have faith in people, and you are just wonderful. Keep your chin up. You'll never be alone and you'll always have support, you just need to find it.

Forgotten what to do to fit the mold?

This is a little bit on the old side, and yet I still have this undying love for it. Not only is Jessie J a major talent in my eyes, but the meaning behind this song she's written is beautiful and something I think deserves to be shared with the world. Chances are, you've heard this. When I did, it touched me. It tells you just how wonderful you are as you, and so many people fail to see that in themselves. It saddens me that in today's society people are influenced so much by the way they feel they have to act, look, behave and live their lives.

So many young people are subject to this way of living their lives. Take for example eating disorders. Now I'm not someone who has a personal experience of disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, but what I do know is that many people suffer from disorders such as these due to the way we are made to feel insecure about our bodies. On a serious level, these things happen. Maybe not as awful as that, but self-esteem issues aren't at all uncommon either. Why? Because so many young people, and probably older people, are forced to believe that the way they need to look is 'perfect'.

This song may not necessarily be directed at things such as eating disorders. However, the message is there and it remains there despite what problems you're facing. What it's trying to say is that it really doesn't matter what mold there is that's been set up for you. They don't matter. What matters is that you are comfortable with who you are. Why shouldn't you be? Who cares what other people want you to look like, or act like, or be like. Take it from me, this idea of  'perfection' doesn't exist. You could try your entire life to be perfect, but chances are you would never please everyone.

See, that's the thing with humans. We're all different. We all have different ideas and opinions and that's what makes us amazing. You can build up this amazing, and yet unrealistic persona in your mind and expect yourself to one day be everyone's idea of perfect, but the truth is you will never be perfect to everyone. I will have a completely different idea of what I like than you do. And that's okay. You are who you are. I am who I am. It's how humans are. We're different, and that's okay. You will always meet someone who is better than you at what you're good at. You'll always meet someone who doesn't agree with what you believe. You will always meet someone who you'll clash with. You can't create yourself a whole new identity just to please everyone. It's unrealistic and it wont happen.

You're you. It's okay to be you. To be honest, I think just being you is simply wonderful. Listen to this song again. Listen carefully. Think about how it relates to you. Someone out there thinks you're beautiful, and you deserve to feel you are too.

Escape your concrete mask!

I've been pondering about what there is to blog about for some time now. Luckily I had the support of someone close to me to give me a hand and now I have this wonderful place to unload some smiles. At least I hope anyway. See, I like it when I get to make people smile. I'd live my entire life making others smile in some way, and I like to think that's partially what I do. I spend an awful lot of time trying to help in any way I can. Sometimes I'm bad at it, but nobody is good at everything. However sometimes I'm good at what I do. I'd like to think that a lot of the time I am.

By no means am I the most confident, well rounded person you'll ever see blogging here, but I like to do my bit, you know? I have beliefs, opinions, a mind full of things that need to be said somehow. Chances are very few people will even see this, but if even one person can read what I have to say, and somehow find it in themselves to crack the concrete frown they've been burdened with, my job will be done.

See, smiles are contagious. So is laughing. So I promise to do my part if you promise to do yours. Wear a smile and let other people see it. Let other people take it. Sometimes they need it just as much as you do. It would be selfish to not share the beauty you have in you with your friends, or even a complete stranger. It doesn't matter if you know the person, just smile at them or something. Not only might it brighten up their day, but you might see why I feel cheering people up can be one of the best ways to cheer yourself up.