Summer and Self Harm

Self Harm is something that so many people struggle with, especially teens. Millions of people have dealt with it, and at affects both boys and girls. Even though so many people have had an experience with it, a lot of people suffer in silence because of shame, fear, fear of being misunderstood, and stigma around mental health. 

When people hear self-harm, their first thoughts are about cutting, but it can also include:
-burning
-skin picking
-hair pulling
-cheek biting
-hitting yourself
-scratching
-and many more

No matter the form, your struggle IS VALID. 
if it left scars, it's valid. 
if it didn't leave scars, it's valid. 
if someone else "had it worse," its still valid. 

IT. IS. VALID. 

The point of this post was to talk about self-harm and summer. 
Summer is coming up, and for many people it brings up the question
"Now what?"

Shorts, swimsuits, Tshirts, Tank Tops, hot weather. 
"How do I hide it?"
"what if people see it?"
"what if they ask questions?"

First, I just want to say that you do not need to feel ashamed of your scars, wounds, or struggles, they DO NOT mean that you are weak or attention seeking. However, I also get that you may not be ready to show them or talk about it yet. 

I do not encourage hiding self harm and struggling alone, reaching out can be really helpful. But if you want to feel more comfortable this summer, here are some ideas: 
-lightweight or thin long sleeve tops
-Oversized tees
-thin zip ups or cardigans
-long dresses
-skirts
-tall socks
-bracelets
-skin colored tights
-concealer
-cute leg warmers
-arm sleeves
-mesh or crochet coverups
-temporary tatoos or drawing or henna. 
if you have any other ideas, please feel free to comment and share :)

Some coping mechanisms that can help with urges: 
-DISTRACTION: distraction, distraction, distraction! At the first feeling of an urge, do something. Color, play a game, clean your room, listen to music, get a drink, scroll, go outside, watch a show, literally anything to interrupt the urge. 

-The TIP method: Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing. Have a hot shower, a cold shower, touch ice, wash your face with cold water. Do 100 jumping jacks, running on the spot, burpees, anything active. Paced breathing is counting while taking deep breaths! I like box breathing, in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, out for 4 seconds, and hold for 4 seconds. 

-Reach out to someone. A friend, a family member, a trusted adult, or even a listener on Cups!

-Journaling can help. Sometimes I write all my thoughts on paper and then rip it up or burn the paper, watching my emotions leave through the page rather than hurting myself. You can also send yourself voice notes of venting. 

-Make a list of reasons to stop. Keep it on your phone, or journal, or on the wall! Read it constantly, and on hard days remind yourself WHY you want to heal, even though it is hard. 

Recovery is not linear, and relapses happen. They don't reset your progress, what matters is that you keep trying! 

If anyone has any questions self-harm related, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message! :)