Self-harm and Social Networking Sites
Self Harm. People think it’s for attention. People think it’s a choice. Some, even think it’s a joke. But here’s the thing, self harm is NOT for attention. Yes, some people do it for attention. The ones who show everyone. Post it on Facebook, Twitter. All these social networking sites so people KNOW. Those people are the ones that give self harmers a bad name. But what about the rest? How are they doing it for attention if no one knows?
Self harm is not a choice. Sure, you choose to do it the first time, but it’s like a drug. Once you start, it’s SO hard to stop. Self harm is an addiction. It’s a drug. It takes over your life. Don’t tell someone to “just stop”. Because they can’t “just stop”. It takes time. A LOT of time. Self harm is a mental illness. Telling a self harmer to “just stop” is like telling a person with cancer to “just get better”.
Those sick jokes people make. “Oh, I’m gonna go home and cut myself.” It hurts. But it’s not exactly your fault. You don’t know some of the people around you could spend their nights in the dark, crying and sliding the blade across their wrists or the lighter to their arms.
And there’s more than one way to self harm. It’s not just cutting. You can cut, you can burn yourself. You can scratch yourself up really bad. But there’s one way that people REALLY don’t think about. Snapping a rubber band to your wrist. People think that can fix it, when really it’s just another way to inflict pain on yourself. It’s not just girls that self harm. Guys do, too. People just don’t realize it.
Next time you walk down the hall, look at peoples arms. Even if their arms are clean from scars, smile at them. They could be going through a hard time, and hiding their scars. Anyone can do it. Your best friend, your family member. It happens all over the world.
3 teens per hour self harm in the UK.
In 2003-2004 over 24 thousand were hospitalised for self harm in Australia.
3 million Americans self harm.
I want to tell you a story.
Self harm is not a choice. Sure, you choose to do it the first time, but it’s like a drug. Once you start, it’s SO hard to stop. Self harm is an addiction. It’s a drug. It takes over your life. Don’t tell someone to “just stop”. Because they can’t “just stop”. It takes time. A LOT of time. Self harm is a mental illness. Telling a self harmer to “just stop” is like telling a person with cancer to “just get better”.
Those sick jokes people make. “Oh, I’m gonna go home and cut myself.” It hurts. But it’s not exactly your fault. You don’t know some of the people around you could spend their nights in the dark, crying and sliding the blade across their wrists or the lighter to their arms.
And there’s more than one way to self harm. It’s not just cutting. You can cut, you can burn yourself. You can scratch yourself up really bad. But there’s one way that people REALLY don’t think about. Snapping a rubber band to your wrist. People think that can fix it, when really it’s just another way to inflict pain on yourself. It’s not just girls that self harm. Guys do, too. People just don’t realize it.
Next time you walk down the hall, look at peoples arms. Even if their arms are clean from scars, smile at them. They could be going through a hard time, and hiding their scars. Anyone can do it. Your best friend, your family member. It happens all over the world.
3 teens per hour self harm in the UK.
In 2003-2004 over 24 thousand were hospitalised for self harm in Australia.
3 million Americans self harm.
I want to tell you a story.