Self Harm/Injury and First Aid - Great resources found inside

*Trigger warning*

* This post contains words that might be triggering or upsetting*

I understand that life can be so tough and stressful sometimes and self harm or self injury might seem like a stress reliever. But there's always another safe and healthy option!

Those who're considering self harm right now :

-Find yourself a quiet,calm place
-Checkout the below links
You can hold off those urges and do something absolutely amazing!
\(^o^)/ *big hugs*

1. 146 Things To Do Besides Self Harm

2. Resources and Hotlines to help you

-If you've injured yourself and are unsure about the first aid :

Take a deep breath and calm yourself down. Try to maintain a steady breathing pattern and call for help immediately.

Mean while, to minimize the damage,here's what you can do:

Cutting

If your method of SI is by cutting,make sure that the blades are clean.
-Keep some ice and a first aid kit by your side (in case if you don't have the cotton pads and gauze,you can use a clean towel/cloth)
-Wrap ice in a clean cloth and apply it over your cut,ice helps to stop the bleeding and numb the area a little.
-If the bleeding doesn't stop,put a cotton pad/towel/clean cloth over the cut and apply pressure,hold it for 3-5 minutes.

If the area of the wound is large
Try to squeeze in the ends and follow the above procedure.
Call for help.

When direct pressure is not appropriate, such as when something is stuck in the would, then you may use indirect pressure by pressing the would together – do not remove the object, but call for an ambulance

Burning

If your method of SI is by scalding or using a heated object then
-Remove the clothing around the burn by either taking it off or by cutting it away. Remove constricting objects,if any (watches,rings etc)

-Bring down the temperature of the burnt area by rinsing it with cold running water for at least 10minutes.

-If you notice any blisters,use cool water
Do not apply any lotions/moisturizers/balms

-A loose dressing of gauze can help to prevent infections

-Some chemicals can also damage the skin tissue
-If its a liquid,
-Do NOT use alkaline to neutralize it.
-Wash it off with lukewarm water for at least 30 minutes
-If its a solid,gently brush it off and wash it.
-IMPORTANT- if anything is stuck to the burn,DO NOT remove it.

Overdosing/Ingesting Toxic substances

If you have taken an overdose or have ingested toxic substances, then medical attention must be sought immediately. Sometimes the effects can be delayed, so even if you feel fine at the moment you might not be. Never induce vomiting.
Take along the package/cover of the substance/medicine you've ingested when you go to the A&E.
Not seeking help can cause irreversible damage and may lead to death,even if it wasn't what you intend to occur.

Call for help immediately without wasting anytime:

-If the cut is deep and has exposed underlying muscle, this is dark red in color and may look like a slab of meat;If you have lost sensation in the area of injury, or more widespread; you may have damaged a nerve;
-If a burn is on a sensitive area of the body (e.g. face), over a joint or on the palm – the healing process creates scar tissue that can shrink the skin, causing potential movement difficulties for life;
-If a burn is severe, or large in area;
-If a burn is caused by chemicals;
-If after a few hours or several days you can see the wound is infected; it could be red, sore, swollen or weeping

Remember,here at 7cups we do not encourage or support Self Harm, but we want to encourage and support you to become safe, happy and healthy. Do not be afraid to reach and seek medical support if you should need it. And we are proud of you for being here and wanting help! We have faith in you!-@StandForFreedom

Here is a lovely picture for y'all from @Kash216

Don't ever lose that beautiful warrior spirit that is burning inside of you - whatever you are going through in life, you are not alone and I'm right there beside you!

And a lovely piece of text from@Essieluvsu

A sad truth to start; too often self harm support comes packed with judgement. The stigma attached to those who actively mar their own bodies is that of extreme nonplussed sciolism. There is a fundamental misunderstanding at the center of the separation between self harmers and self helpers. As in, ‘just stop, honey or ‘why ruin your body like that?. No, no. This will need to stop. The truth, of course, for those of us who struggle with self harm day in and day out is that its no easier to stop than, say, yawning. The important thing is, to all self harmers, none of this is your fault. That is the paramount truth I want to share with all. It isnt your fault and you arent selfish. You are a beautiful person who has found a way to release emotional pain. Maybe sometimes you feel like you need to punish your body for mistakes. Or, perhaps, more purely physical motives such as blood letting. You are a beautiful person who wants it to stop. Since I was 16 years old Ive been wearing long sleeves in my warm climate. The day I took off my jacket in class and everyone saw my arms was a dividing line. So, we feel alienated, as if we are standing in a corner of a big giant room populated with ‘non self harmers. No more! I want this topic to be out in the public consciousness because it is real and needs to be confronted. I want you to know that self harm can stop, you can find a way. That statement is has no judgmental barbs or victorious self aggrandizing attached to it. I know those who were at one point cutting every single day who now have been on year long streaks of no self harm. The brutal truth is the itch will never go away, it will become manageable. In five years you might be walking with a loved one and see someone from high school. You see him and think yes, hes the one who put glue in my hair, and then you feel your skin. But, in time this will be merely a reminder of your triumph instead of a call to self harm. Your scars and cuts, wounds, all of you is unknown human symmetry. These represent, simply, vim. They mark you a survivor not a failure, a live-r and not a die-r. You felt the unbearable torridness of life and came out the other end. And so this is to say to you that I love you, and I am proud of you, and I exalt your existence. I want it to be an impossibility for someone to make you feel little, because you are a sky-scraping tornado of true grit.

Finally,I just want to remind you that you're cared for and loved. And you're not alone,we're here for you! We always will be. :')