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Self HarmIn order to better understand Self-Harm, we have included information that has helped many survivors of child abuse move toward healing. Here we question why we hurt the body, including a video created to relay feelings about self-harm, as well as a creative art piece that demonstrates the reality for most who self-harm. While creating this site, we also researched this topic and found several articles and information that benefits those who self-harm, including alternatives to self-harming, a bill of rights for those who self-harm, and books of interest for those who self-harm. Menu:
Creative Expression - You Can't Touch Me!
Self-Injury (SI) can be a problem for many with DID, and it has been for me. I have wondered why the urge to hurt myself is so difficult to resist. According to Steinburg, as written in her book "The Stranger in the Mirror," dissociated individuals often SI for reasons different than those of others, as a way to keep abusive memories out of consciousness. I included this quote here for others, as well as to enable me to better understand reasons why I sometimes SI, many times without any memory of doing so. It is so difficult to explain to medical professionals that I don't remember hurting myself, as if I had blacked out for that period of time, when actually another part of myself had SI, without my being aware of what they were doing. SI is an embarrassing negative coping method for which it is difficult to seek help. Most supporters are unable to help, because they simply do not understand. A supporter telling me to stop doing the SI, or telling me I can't do SI because it is wrong, is not helpful at all. In fact, for some reason, it usually increases the frequency of SI. In reality, for us it is a cry for help but not a manipulative one. So many abuse survivors have not learned how to verbally ask for help because of the "no talk, no-tell, secrecy" rules so deeply instilled in them. Therefore, the visible action of SI is chosen. The most helpful thing for me was when my psychologist told me he could understand why we felt the way we did and he wished we didn't feel we had to hurt ourselves, and he allowed us to speak of it without being criticized for the behavior. It opened up our ability to verbalize instead of acting out. He gave us permission to feel and permission to speak. He helped me with coping skills I already knew, but would forget to use, by suggesting lists containing the coping skills and contact numbers for him and other understanding supporters. Some of the coping skills most helpful to me and mine have been journaling, writing poetry, and doing collages about what we are feeling. What I want is to find a way to make the memories stop and for so long SI was the quickest and also the only method I knew. He helped me learn it was okay to speak, to feel, to express in ways that did not hurt my body. He said we had been hurt enough. He was right. I have also found it helpful to go to our online DID support community message board before we I or others in our system SI, and share with others what I'm feeling and to read others' replies of genuine support, understanding, and guidance. I may not be listening to what others inside are trying to communicate to me. If I ignore them when they need help they will get my attention in whatever way they can and, unfortunately, sometimes the method is SI. For me, SI in the form of cutting has stopped for a number of years now. I cannot state positively I/we will never SI again. The urge is still with us. I wish I could be sure it would never happen again. Disclaimer: This site contains information to be used only for the purpose of support and general education. It should not be used for diagnosis and/or treatment of any physical or mental conditions. It is owned, designed and maintained by a healing survivor in recovery. The author of the general text is the owner and that general text remains the property of said owner. Other materials used on the site come from various authors and will have the author credited and those materials remain the property of said authors with copyright information included when and where it is available. We assume no liability for the contents or effects of this site. Some of the content may be disturbing. Read at your own risk. If you believe you are suffering from a physical or mental condition seek help from a qualified professional physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist; a crisis center; or call 911.
Recommended Online Support Group
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