Cause of the Month will focus on just one of the many causes discussed each month around the world.

March Cause of the Month is Self harm.

 

 

 

 

What Is Self-Harm?

 

Mention self-harm to people and many of them automatically think of someone who cuts. This point of view is so very wrong.

Here is MY point of view on the subject of self-harm.

 

Self-harm has many guises, it can be cutting yourself, but it is also: self-neglect, self-abuse, anorexia, bulimia, self-destructive behaviours, alcoholism, drug abuse legal or illegal, physical self-harm such as cutting, punching, biting, hitting yourself with objects like a hammer, gouging with instruments like screwdrivers, hair pulling. The list of self-harming injuries is endless, some of them are obvious, some not so obvious.

 

Take self -destructive behaviours, for example:

 

Riding a ten speed bike down a steep hill without using the brakes, turning a corner without stopping, narrowly avoiding two oncoming cars and thinking, "that was a GOOD ride, wowee!"  Doing this trip regularly is self-destructive, it shows a disregard for your life.

Many people with a self-destructive streak take up dangerous activities under the guise of dangerous sports.

Self-destructive behaviour has another face too, driving people away by your attitude towards them, making the atmosphere intolerable, so that they no longer want to be around you. Having 'temper tantrums' when things don't go the way you want them to, or people don't do things exactly when, or how you want them done. Behaving so moodily that your company is not wanted. This is another form of self-destructive behaviour. Eventually you will drive everyone away from you, even the ones who care about you, and you end up lonely and embittered.

 

Self-neglect, another way to harm yourself, not eating regularly, not bathing often enough, not keeping yourself clean.

Avoiding contact with other people. Eventually you become so introverted that you forget how to interact with others.

 

Some of the self-harming 'activities' are 'coping' mechanisms. They help us to cope with the stresses of our daily lives. Others are pure self-destruction but still come under the heading of self-harm

 

Which one are you?

 

 

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©2003-2008 Aran M Cockburn