Self-harm is a way to cope with intense feelings, whether it’s used as a release or as a distraction, and turn to self-harm to allow you to focus on a different feeling: pain. You may find that you don’t have any support around you and are looking for a way to cope on your own.
Although self-harm is an extremely unhealthy coping strategy, it works, however, the benefits are short-lived, you’ll find yourself feeling either numb or the same negative feelings you tried to get away from, leading you to self-harm again.
Some forms are mild whereas others are more extreme.
There are several behaviours, which can be classed, as self-harm:
- Cutting yourself
- Pulling your hair out
- Scratching or picking at your skin
- Putting yourself in danger
- Purposefully abusing yourself e.g. alcohol use
- Purposefully injuring yourself e.g. burning yourself
You may find yourself having urges to self-harm, you can overcome this urge. There are ways to cope and do so in a healthy way where you won’t cause yourself harm:
- Place an ice cube in the palm of your hand and hold it tight until you’re ready to let go
- Put an elastic band on your wrist and with every urge, pull it
- Get a pen and draw on yourself instead of cutting yourself
- Remind yourself; these feelings will pass as they always do.
We have therapists working from Kay’s Counselling office in Birmingham and online via video calling. All our therapists go through a rigorous interview process, aiming to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to help you work through your issues through counselling or psychotherapy.
All our therapists know the level of courage it takes for you to contact us to start your journey, we aim to match the same level of courage in our therapists.
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Helping to prevent you self-harming, Kay’s Counselling here to provide support those who are self-harming.