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.
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