Self-Injury Awareness Day

In light of Self-Injury Awareness Day, here are a few things that self-injury is NOT, taken from the book Hope and Healing for Kids Who Cut by Marv Penner:

It is not just a fad.

It is not an extreme version of tattoos or piercings

It is probably not a suicide attempt (though self-injury is often the result of deep emotional pain or a symptom of other problems like depression, so the issue of suicide should definitely be addressed! Avoid accusations though, and understand that self-injury is most likely a coping technique rather than an attempt to end one’s life)

It is not demon possession (I’m looking at you, Baptist preachers)

It is not just an attempt to get attention.

For those struggling with self-injury, one of the worse feelings is the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding the issue throughout society. Many of us who are or have been self-injurers in the past are all too familiar with the misconceptions listed above.

So, let’s drag this issue into the light and remove the stigma surrounding self-injury. If you have a story to tell, send me a link in the comments and I will post it on my Weekend Links tomorrow or Sunday. Or just take the last few hours of Self-Injury Awareness Day to spread these facts to your friends and family!

Oh, and if you’re currently a self-injurer, I get it. I’ve been there, and so have many others.

You are not alone!