Q2A

Got an enquiry ........

arggghhhhh major stressed !! how do i stop self harming coz ma arms look ewww and im
starting to think whats the point wat do i do.. who do i turn to x

This is our reply.......

Hi, thanks for contacting Q2A with your message.  It came into our storyboard and we

have put it there as well as here.  We hope you have found it ok. We hope the following

info and advice is useful to you.

We are sorry to hear how stressed you are but it's positive to know that you are starting
to think about working on reducing or managing to stop your self harm. There are lots of
services and trustworthy people you can turn to and we hope you can find someone or
something from the information we provide.

Reaching the point where you want to start to try to alter! your habit is the essential first
step.

As you have pointed out you don't like the look of your arms and cuts can be unsightly
and can probe people to ask questions which may make you feel uncomfortable. It can be
difficult to handle people's reactions and you might feel embarrassed. But you don't need
to apologise for yourself and your behaviour, you will have felt that this was the right thing
to do at the time, even if it doesn't feel like that now, so there is no need to be
embarrassed even if other people may be. We mention TESS further down in our answer
and you might find some of their information sheets helpful. They do talk about this
aspect of self harming.

It is rarely easy or simple or quick to break a habit, and everyone will have good days and
not good days. Try to accept this and don't beat yourself up if you do still need to self
harm when you have decided not to. Just start again from there. Having support can be
very helpful, and having someone to talk through with can be good too. If you would like
youth counselling you can find agencies local to you at

www.youthaccess.org.uk/directory/

Also here are some more useful places to get help and advice on this:

Bristol Crisis Service for Women is a support service for girls and women who self harm.
They run a texting service and an email support service. They also have a lot of helpful
information on their website. The number for you to text is 07800472908 and they are
open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7-9pm and Thursdays 3.30pm-5.30pm. Or
alternatively you can email them by going on the website www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk and
email them by clicking 'TESS text and email support' then clicking on 'email TESS.'

Also on their website if you click on 'How can I stop or reduce self harm' which is listed on
the right hand side in the pink box you will find a document on identifying self harm and
why you do it and ways to reduce it or stop it altogether. Also on here is a useful
worksheet on identifying why you self harm which as we said is the key to being able to
change your behaviour enough to stop.

On the homepage when you have logged onto www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk click on 'help
and support' then click on 'Try one of our self injury self-help ideas' then you will find a
paragraph on 'The self harm spectrum' and in that paragraph highlighted in blue is 'Self-
harm spectrum sheet to print (pdf)' and here you can fill in a sheet which helps identify
causes.

For other sources of counselling support, as well as through a GP or from the Youth
Access Directory, The British Association for Counselling is on 01788 578328 and they
provide details of local counsellors and psychotherapists.

The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is on 01714363002 and gives
details of local counsellors.

As you have not specified where you are we are going to give you a number for a helpline
that serves rural areas solely so if you are in a rural area this may be of use to you. Their
services include signposting to other services in rural areas who maybe feeling stressed,
troubled, anxious or needing information on anything in their area. They are called the
'Rural Stress' helpline and their number is: 0845 094 8286. This is a lo-call number. The
service is open 9-5 Monday to Friday.

As you have not specified which county you are in we have can give you a number for a
Lancashire based line. The number for the 'Mental Health Helpline' for Lancashire is 0500
639 000. This is a freephone service open Monday to Friday 7pm-11pm and weekend
noon til midnight.

We hope this information is helpful to you and if you would like some more information
then please get back to us.

Good Luck with everything!

From Q2A

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