Self Harm

Bit of a headline grabber this one. What kind of images do the words self harm conjure up in your mind? A teenager seeking attention? A Goth type doing it because it's fashionable in some sort of subculture? Perhaps you know there is a link between some mental health issues and self harm. Maybe your mind has created the image of someone who is raving mad cutting themselves with razor blades. Perhaps someone slashing their arms to ribbons or overdosing on medication as an attention seeking ploy?

All of the above are stereotypes that people think of when thinking about self harm. There is possibly truth in some but not others. The attention thing is pretty much bunk, there are far better ways to get attention than mutilating yourself. The reasons why people harm themselves are many and varied. Some people do it because the pain makes them feel real, in control or just to make them feel something. Others might be to punish themselves for some perceived inadequacy. The reasons people harm themselves are as varied as the methods used.

We sometimes cut or scratch our arms. We do these things when we feel overwhelmed, it returns us to focus and in a sense leaves us feeling more grounded. We also self harm by hitting ourselves when we are angry, stressed or overwhelmed. Self harm is something that many multiples do, when you have survived deep hurts, it seems to be almost inevitable.