Self Harm

Previously, I wrote a blog on self harm, but I decided against publishing it. So this is my second attempt at passing my own critique.

It's a major issue today with people of all ages and can be described as when the individual inflicts harm upon themselves and includes biting, scratching, picking at existing wounds or sores (which causes non-healing), pulling out hair, substance misuse. Bruises, lacerations, bites, scratches, hair loss in one area, unusual non-healing of sores, evidence of substance misuse.

So it covers all bases there in that one definition; often the definitions of self harm include the words "without suicidal intent". I believe that remaining or knowingly entering into dysfunctional relationships that will cause damage to one's physical, emotional or pysche, is also a very prominant method of self harm.

Often justified by those who do it as a "release", those who do not partake in SH can sometimes misinterpret SH as attention seeking. Whilst I do not deny that there are cases where this is the truth, in my personal experience those who have SH'd try to hide it, and use it as a release for frustration. 90% of the time anyway.

I however like to believe it can be the expression of one's unconscious level of pyschology presenting itself onto the very conscious reality. Anyone who has done very basic pyschology will have had access to Freud's Iceberg, and this can help clarify what I mean when I say unconscious, preconscious and unconscious.

All in all I find the subject fascinating. As someone who has SH'd in the past I want to examine my own motives and keep my heart and head in sync and motion within each other, and whilst I have overcome the more deliberate forms of SH, I am still to master the impulse to pick existing wounds and allow healing.

I can only ever use myself as an example, and I can't even pretend to empathise with those who have done worse, or for different reasons than myself. All I can do is listen and be compassionate.
The damage done to ourselves through SH and poor adult relationships is evident in day to day behaviour. I see girls with scars up and down their arms, and single women mocking men and continually putting them down with generalisations, which come to the surface as a joke, but some of the so called jokes come from genuine hurt and cause even more pain with their placement.

I'm trying to think of a conclusion for this; I can't find a place. How can you possible conclude something like this with a few words and punctuation marks..

So here's the end.

Samaritans: (N. Ireland) 028 90664422 and (General) 08457909 090
Rethink: (NI) 028 20402323
Lifeline: (General) 0808 808 8000
Aware-Defeat-Depression: (Belfast) 028 90321734 and (L/Derry) 028 71260602