Help is Available
You're not alone
If you self-harm as a way of coping with stressful or difficult feelings, such as anger, frustration or worthlessness, the important thing to realise is that you're not alone. Many people do this and come through it. There is help out there.
The kind of personal exploration needed to resolve these issues is often best done with a mental health professional or counsellor. But this does not mean that people who self-harm cannot take some control of their situation.
Self-help
Most people who self-harm want to stop hurting themselves and they can do this by trying to develop new ways of coping and communicating. However, some people feel a need not only to change their behaviour, but also to understand why they have resorted to harming themselves.
There are a number of techniques that can reduce the risk of serious injury or minimise the harm caused by self-inflicted injury. This list is not exhaustive - different people find different things useful in various situations. So if one doesn't work, try another.
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Stop and try to work out what would have to change to make you no longer feel like hurting yourself
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Count down from ten (nine, eight, seven)
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Point out five things, one for each sense, in your surroundings to bring your attention on to the present
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Breathe slowly - in through the nose and out through the mouth
Sources of support
If you're nervous about seeking professional help and wish to remain anonymous it may be a good idea to contact The Samaritans.
Professional help
Self-harm is almost always a symptom of another underlying problem. While the problem can be addressed directly through behavioural and stress-management techniques, it may also be necessary to look at and treat other problems. This could involve anything from medication to simply talking therapies.
Most local mental health teams are prepared to see and assess people who self-harm, but where the underlying problems are too complex, may decide to refer the patient to more specialist services. It is essential that self-harm is destigmatised so that people seek help early on. Modifying our bodies is part of contemporary culture, for example piercing, cosmetic surgery (breast enhancement and nose jobs), hair removal, skin bleaching, hair straightening and tattooing.