When I feel sad or depressed, I feel like harming myself because is the only way to feel better. Are there other options for me?
It’s important to know why you’re harming yourself before discussing other options. Are you harming yourself to cope with the pain you feel? Or are you harming yourself to end your life? If you’re harming yourself to end your life, please call us at 403-264-8336 for a one-on-one conversation.
If you harm yourself to deal with your sadness and pain, you’re not alone. Sometimes, hurting yourself when you’re in pain can direct your attention away from your emotional pain and distract you with the physical pain you might feel when you hurt yourself. This can feel better in the moment, but it isn’t effective in the long run. When you feel like harming yourself, try to be aware about what you are feeling in the moment. Focus on identifying your feelings and what they are. Remind yourself that no emotion lasts forever and that trying to suppress your feelings may actually increase the power of that emotion later on rather than making it go away.
Do you have someone you can talk to? Like a counselor, teacher, or parent? Having an adult you can trust to provide you with support can be really helpful. When you feel like you want to harm yourself, you could try engaging in other activities that may help you cope. For example, you could write in a journal, call a friend, go for a walk/run, listen to music or paint a picture. Sometimes talking to someone who won’t judge you can also be helpful which is why we are here for you at ConnecTeen.
We encourage you to chat with us online at www.CalgaryConnecTeen.com, or text us at 587-333-2724 during our peer support hours available here. If you want to talk to someone right away, you can call us anything at 403-264-TEEN (8336), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are trained youth volunteers who can help you in the moment when you feel like self-harming, even if it’s just to listen for a little while.
