Counseling in Katy TX: Self-Harm Awareness
It seems like as long as the world is spinning, there will never be enough time to complete everything that deserves attention. St. Patrick’s Day is in March (We’re all Irish on St. Paddy’s Day, right)! March 12th is International Fanny Pack Day, and Monopoly was released for the first time in March of 1933! So many mini celebrations can take up your attention on a daily basis, but it’s incredibly important to not forget the part of March that deserves its very own spotlight: March is Self-Harm Awareness Month. If you, or someone you know is struggling with self-harm, please remember that no one is alone. Reaching out for counseling in Katy TX can be the first step toward ending the distress of self-harm, as well as developing healthy coping skills.
Psychology Today defines self-harm as a “deliberate, non-suicidal behavior that inflicts physical harm on one’s body to relieve emotional distress.” In short, self-harm can be referred to as a coping skill. Is it a healthy example of a coping skill? Absolutely not. Self-harm is a symbolic way to communicate what a person cannot find the words for; it is a distraction from mental distress.
It’s difficult to understand how to be present for someone who is fighting the desire to self-harm. It’s crucial to learn how to comfort those suffering from mental (and physical) torment. Seeing someone you care about resort to self-harm can be heartbreaking and scary; it might make you want to take a step back, or turn a blind eye to the situation. It’s imperative to fight against those instincts and to take a step toward them. If someone has reached out to you, it’s because they trust you, and they need you.
Let’s look at how you can be there to support a loved one struggling with self-harm.
Throw the criticisms, and judgements out the window. The person you would like to help is already criticizing and judging themselves enough. An additional person, especially someone they care about, passing judgment, or having harsh opinions, may cause them to withdraw into isolation. Isolation can fuel depressive thoughts, and actions. It is critical to let someone that is suffering know that they are not alone, and that you want to help them.
If the person you are concerned about is open to talking, then simply listen. The issue they are having doesn’t need to be solved by you right then and there. The goal is to be there for your loved one, to be present, to listen. If the person you are concerned about is not open to talking, there are still ways to be supportive. Support can be provided in the form of a distraction: talk about literally anything and everything, watch a movie, create art, go for a walk, go get an ice cream cone; the options are endless. The important part is that you are present. Just being there can help.
Use this knowledge to be present for someone who is struggling with self-harm. Be aware. Be helpful. Be kind to others, and to yourself. Show compassion, the world deserves it; you deserve it.
Do you need support? Let me be present for you. Counseling in Katy TX can help with depression, anxiety, and stress management. Brainspotting therapy will help release trauma, and bring you to a more comfortable resting state. Let’s work together, today! Contact me at 281-937-4737 for a free consultation.
