'I make my arms bleed and get depressed. Can you help me?'
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Q: I used to have behaviour problems and used to shout at my teachers etc. In about year six I started cutting my arms, and then I stopped. A few months ago I started again. I make my arms bleed and I get very depressed. My current school teacher called my mum, but I said to my mum that my rabbit scratched me. Sometimes I feel like I want to kill myself because I think I'm fat and ugly. I can't talk to my mum because I'm scared of what she will say. Can you help me? Annie, 12 |
our online advisors reply:
Hi Annie, I'm glad you felt you could contact us. It sounds like things are very hard for you at the moment.
Cutting yourself, which is sometimes called self-harm or self-injury, is something some people do as a way of letting out pressure that they feel inside. Many people who self-harm say they feel confused and overwhelmed. Sometimes they say it helps them feel in control of their life. Do you feel a bit like that when you make your arms bleed?
YoungMinds has produced a booklet about self-injury, which may help you understand what is going on. It also has some suggestions on how you can help yourself, and details of organisations that offer support. You can read this on the web at www.youngminds.org.uk.
Please don't think that you are alone in experiencing this. Th website www.self-injury.info is produced by someone who has used self-harm to cope with their feelings.
We also have an article about self-harm on our own site, which has some other sources of help and information at the end. Go to mind section – self-harm.
You say that you can't talk to your mum, but it often helps to relieve the tension if you can talk to someone about what you are experiencing. It can help release the bad feelings, and even help you try to change your need to hurt yourself. It can take time to change, so having someone you trust to encourage you can be really important. Is there an adult you could trust to talk to?
If you don't feel you can talk to someone you know, there are other people who will listen and understand what you are experiencing. Young people's helplines have staff who are used to listening to people with problems like yours, and you don't have to tell them your name. ChildLine is available 24 hours a day on 0800 1111. This is a free number and won't show up on the phone bill.
I hope this information has helped.
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