Self harming

[rasmus]

I need some advise on how to approach someone who is self harming. Does anybody have any experience of this please. Thankyou.

[Octavius]

Some good advice, with links here:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Q uestion569798.html

[rasmus]

Thanks octavius, thats certainly interesting reading. I shall print it all off and study it.

[lilacben]

rasmus, I too have a daughter who is suffering from post natall depression ans self harming. I have found out it started over a year ago. I didnt know until december that
she was depressed and she was harming herself. Since thenI have been to the doctors,mental health nurses with her and tomorrow I am going another meeting with her. Antidepressents dont' seem to be working. It is such a worry and I really cannot give any advice but to tell you you are not alone in this terrible illness and you can alwas talk to me,maybe tomorrow will be some news I can share with you. keep in touch. x

[solitude]

I have harmed myself at various times over the years. I used to cut myself quite badly. It is hard to describe to someone who doesn't self-harm, but I suppose the best way to describe it was that I experienced an incredible feeling of relief, a release of negative emotion, for a short time after I cut myself. Of course, it doesn't last, and then you have to add in the guilt hurting yourself, but that short time of relief makes it all worth while. I was in therapy and on medication when I was cutting most frequently. I am still in therapy, but very little medication now and haven't harmed myself in a few years. When discussing this with a self-harmer, it is very easy to say the wrong thing and make things worse and close of avenues of dicsussion. do your research before plowing in there and making things worse. Being supportive is all you can do sometimes. Good Luck.

[lilacben]

solitude, thankyou for your advise.My daughter saw another health mental doctor yesterday and she said to put a elastic band on her wrist and if she feels like she is going to cut herself twang the band. Also told her to cut tablets by half for two weeks and then come off them, she wants to see if she is any better without them.

[nutella]

might be an idea to contact a mental health organisation like mind you can try helplines even .some of them are fab, but as in all types of mental health work quite often you'd think the staff are more troubled than their patients.
Good luck with it aasmus