Self Harm Awareness Day

 Why is March 1st 2012 significant? Self Harm Awareness Day.

All over the world; in every country, continent and corner of the world, there are people who for whatever reason cause their bodies harm, whether it be by physically cutting their skin, or through eating disorders by starving themselves or forcing themselves to be sick after every bit of food.

There are common myths out there which are simply that; myths. And today is all about showing someone who is putting their own self through harm there is always someone there to talk to, to listen.

Myth: People who cut and self-injure are trying to get attention.
Fact: The painful truth is that people who self-harm generally do so in secret. They aren’t trying to manipulate others or draw attention to themselves. In fact, shame and fear can make it very difficult to come forward and ask for help.

Myth: People who self-injure are crazy and/or dangerous.
Fact: It is true that many people who self-harm suffer from anxiety, depression, or a previous trauma—just like millions of others in the general population. Self-injury is how they cope. Slapping them with a “crazy” or “dangerous” label isn’t accurate or helpful.

Myth: People who self-injure want to die. 
Fact: Self-injurers usually do not want to die. When they self-harm, they are not trying to kill themselves—they are trying to cope with their pain. In fact, self-injury may be a way of helping themselves go on living. However, in the long-term, people who self-injure have a much higher risk of suicide, which is why it’s so important to seek help.

Myth: If the wounds aren’t bad, it’s not that serious.
Fact: The severity of a person’s wounds has very little to do with how much he or she may be suffering. Don’t assume that because the wounds or injuries are minor, there’s nothing to worry about.

In aid of today, I felt the need just to post a little something I saw, rather than a light-hearted, happy-go-lucky kind of blog which is the norm with me because issues like this really are important and being a part of a conversation at work the other day really hit home just how big a problem this has become in today’s society.

I hope that if just one person who is in need of help can come across this post, and it helps them in someway, I’ll have done my bit.

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