Self Injury Awareness Month: My Story

Dear Readers,

March is Self-Injury Awareness Month!

I don’t talk about it very often, but those closest to me know I struggled with self injury for ten years. Most of my scars are covered by tattoos now, but I still remember those dark days, wearing long sleeves in July, and all the interventions that pulled me through.

I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by family, friends, church goers, and mental health practitioners who didn’t always know how to help, but they tried.

Together we developed the language to talk about hard things and why humans who experience emotional turmoil resort to things like self harm.

My last relapse was five years ago and I have no intention of returning to my old ways, but I think it’s important to look back once in a while.

If you or someone you love is struggling with self injury, you can help by listening, researching resources, and guiding them toward developing insight about their own experience. It can be alarming, but keep in mind any coping skill can be made into a better one with as little as one conversation.

-Blithe