5 things to know when you're recovering from self-harm

I personally struggled with self-harm for about 10 years and this month makes one year in recovery from self-harm. Its been a long journey. Its been hard, and Im not going to say I never get the urges to engage in self-harm behaviors because I definitely do, but over the past year I have developed my skills and strength to help me get through a crisis without hurting myself. I hope that you find these tips helpful.

1. Be aware of your triggers:

Know what your body feels like when an urge hits, be mindful of items, sounds or pictures that make you feel a certain way or take you back to when you would self-harm. For me, I always knew when my body wanted to self-harm because my wrists would burn. Without fail, the feeling to cut was always preceded by my wrists burning, almost like it was simulating the act of cutting to get me by until I actually could self-harm.

2. Forgive yourself if you relapse

There will be relapses and thats okay. If youve made it a day, a week, a month without self-harm, thats amazing in and of itself. If you relapse you can set a new goal for yourself to make it even longer this time. Just take it one moment at a time, thats all you can really do.

3. Its important to find support

Support is vital. It doesnt have to come in the form of a significant other or a family member, or even a friend. Support can come from within, it can come from a support group on Facebook or it can come from the favorite poetry verse you have hanging on your wall. Support can come from playing your guitar when you feel the urge, or going out for a walk with your dog. Support doesnt have to be a physical person; support is anything you use to help you through the urges and make you feel whole again, even for just a moment.

4. Trust in your ability to recover

Trust yourself, your strength and your courage. Trust yourself to push forward in the face of a relapse. Trust that youll be able to forgive yourself. Put one step in front of the other.

5. If your body can heal, so can your mind

It hit me that I have scars because my body healed, and its really not a big deal…The scars are evidence of healing. If your body can heal from the trauma, so can your mind. It will be a long road, but recovery is possible; healing is possible.