Self harming is not something a person just wakes up and decides to do. It stems from many different things that are going on in the person's life. Depression is one of the key factors that lead to self harming. Self harming is defined in society as "a way to get attention" when in fact, many who self harm do their best to hide their scars. They don't want to be labeled as a freak, or be looked at as something they are not.
Many people self harm. Doctors, lawyers, it can be anyone, maybe even your best friend whom you have known for years. Many people who self harm do not just talk about the issue openly, and some even lie about it if directly asked. It isn't an issue that will "just go away", it is something that has happened for years, but society sweeps it under the rug.
There are many forms of self injury, although several exist there are two main ones that stick out. The most common is cutting. This is when one takes any sharp object, most times a razor blade, and cuts themselves. Another form of self injury is burning, purposely burning oneself with a cigarette, or while cooking, etc.
Most people start in their early to mid teens, but some addictions last for years, and no one ever knows. Self injurers become very good at hiding what they do to their bodies. The scars are not trophies to them, they are gross reminders of the pain they feel. So why do they do it? Many different reasons are given. Depression, self esteem issues, they ended a relationship, someone in the family died, a number of issues can cause this to happen.
People who self injure can not just stop because they want to. It becomes an addiction to "bleed away the pain". The pain they feel on the inside needs to come out and many people turn to self injury. After time, it becomes an euphoric high, and only then can you get higher by cutting more, or a bit deeper, or burning more sensative areas.
When people begin to self injure, they don't fully understand the meaning of what they are getting themselves into. At first it isn't fully understood, but they just know that it gets the pain out, it becomes an outlet. When a person stops self injuring, it is like any other addiction, it takes years to get over the cravings to do it again, and again, and again. Some people get so bad that intervention is needed. Sometimes talking to someone helps, but doesn't always take away the pain.
To get over self injuring oneself, they must find an outlet to redirect the pain into. A new hobby, exercise, going to therapy to talk about thier problems and face them head on. If you encounter someone that does self injure, the worst thing you can do for them is judge them. Try to understand thier position, put yourself in their shoes, if only for a moment in time. If in fact you know someone who is a self injurer, try to get them to agree to finding help. Help is available, and could save that person's life.
Thanks for the writing. This was good.