Being Safer When You Self Harm: Harm Minimisation

Trigger Warning: This article is going to discuss ideas and concepts you may find triggering. Please only read on if you feel able to cope with these triggers. <3

DISCLAIMER:

I am not a qualified doctor. Nothing in this article is intended to replace the advice of a suitably qualified professional. If you are struggling with self harm I strongly urge you to seek help from your GP, school counsellor or another medical practitioner.

What is Harm Minimisation?

Harm minimisation is exactly what it sounds like, attempting to reduce the damage someone does to themselves when they self harm.

Are you saying its okay to harm yourself?

No! In this post I am attempting to acknowledge the fact that sometimes, no matter how hard we try to distract ourselves, people recovering from self harm can sometimes slip up. I would encourage you to do everything you can to distract yourself from self harming, however, for many people, complete abstinence is just not the reality. This post is for those people, to try and keep them as safe as they can be navigating the difficult road to recovery.

Never:

- Self harm under the influence of any alcohol or drugs.

- Take any tablets (‘self-poison) in order to self harm. There are no safe overdoes, even small ones can kill.

- Share anything you use to self-injure

- Cut yourself where major arteries and veins are close to the surface. Please, learn a little anatomy!

- Eat hair you pull out.

Always:

- Keep a well-stocked first aid kit with whatever you use to harm.

- Use sterilized blades to avoid risk of infection. (Leave them in boiling water)

- Know when to seek medical help.

- Understand what shock is and how to recognise it.

Other Advice:

- Try to reduce the severity of your injuries, e.g. scratching or pinching instead of cutting, snaping a rubber band against your arm.

- Have a plan for what to do if you go too far and are unable to treat your own injuries.

- Keep a phone nearby when you harm, in case you have to call the emergency services.

- Keep up to date with your tetanus vaccine.

More on First Aid:

First aid for cuts and grazes

First aid for severe bleeding

First aid for burns

Shock

A Basic First Aid Kit:

- Basic first aid book or leaflet

- Sterile dressings

- Bandages

- Plasters

- Medical Tape

- Medical scissors

- Antiseptic wipes/spray

- Adhesive skin closure strips, e.g. steri-strips.

- Clingfilm (to cover over burns)

This post is not exhaustive and there is a lot more I would like to cover, especially in relation to first aid. Sources of information I have used and good articles for further reading are: here, here, here, here.