Thank you for asking us this question. Self-harm can be a tough thing to talk about, and we’re really glad you reached out to us about it.
Unfortunately, we aren’t able to tell you why you like self-harming, because we aren’t you. We don’t know what you’ve experienced, what you’ve had to go through, and we don’t know the reasons for your self-harm.
Although we can’t answer you personally, we know that self-harm is something that affects many people. Often, people self-harm in order to cope with the tough things going on in their life, or to deal with the emotions that are plaguing them. A lot of the time, they choose to feel physical pain in order to forget or relieve them from their emotional or psychological distress. When all these emotions and stresses are being pent up inside them, people often need immediate relief from the pain. If there’s something tough going on in your life that is affecting you and causing you to self-harm, it is normal to look for ways to cope.
Self-harm is a way to cope, but it can be dangerous for you, and finding other ways to cope with your emotions may be beneficial to you. We encourage you to consider whether other coping mechanisms might be available for you to try. For example, talking to a trusted friend or family member could help you relieve the stress you’re feeling, and give you a shoulder to lean on. Having someone who knows what you’re going through can be really helpful, because it enables them to be there for you and support you. If nobody knows how you’re doing, they might not know that you’re in need of help. You don’t have to deal with everything all alone; you deserve to get help and be supported. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to anyone you know, we’re always here to talk to you too. Other coping mechanisms include: watching television, reading a book, listening to music, taking a bath, playing a sport or exercising, writing in a journal, or doing anything else that you love doing. If there’s something you like doing in your spare time that you think would distract you or help you relax, then it might be worth a try.
Having to deal with stressful emotions or situations is normal, and don’t forget that coping to help ourselves feel better is a normal and healthy way to react. If you’d like to talk to us more about self harming, or anything else that’s going on in your life, please don’t hesitate to call us at (403) 264-8336, text us at (587) 333-2724 or chat with our volunteers online at http://calgaryconnecteen.com/. We’re here to listen to you, and we’re here to support you!
