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*Trigger Warning if you are a self injurer, if you feel like injuring your self
stop reading this*


Hello, I am writing this paper to raise awareness of self injury. Self injury is not
exactly a common topic but if we don't start raising awareness it's just going to get worst.
People need to learn the facts of self injury so they can understand it better. I am hoping
this paper will help self injurers and help other people understand why self injury happens
and how to help someone who is going through it. Please take the time to read this and
if you know a self injurer request that they read this too.
The best way to start this essay is to state what self injury is.Self injury is when a
person hurts themself in any way. Self injury includes cutting, burning, scratching,
pinching, reopening wounds, and pulling hair. There are also many other ways to self
injure. Self injury is not limited to what I did mention.
There is a lot of myths surrounding self injury. That is probably the reason people
don't understand self injury. I am only going to talk about some of those myths.
The first myth I want to talk about is the myth that states: "Self injurers are crazy."
That is not true. Self injurers are not crazy they just require medical help. They usually
are just having difficulties coping. Self injury is a coping mechanism just like smoking,
alcohol, and drugs are for some people.
The biggest and worst myth by far is the 'attention seekers' one. Many people
think self injurers are doing it for attention. Most self injurers hide it. The are ashamed
and they feel terrible for doing it. They can keep it a secret for years before somebody
figures it out. If they were seeking attention they would not be keeping it a secret.
Okay, this one is a big one so listen up. Cutters are not emo! They are not goth
either! They are just people from different cliques. Some also think that only certain
types of people hurt themselves. That is not true. Self injury does not discriminate
against race or age, rich or poor.
Many people believe that one just one cut won't hurt them but it will. They think they
will be able to quit with ease. That is not true. Self injury is addictive, just like smoking.
You can't just tell someone to quit. It doesn't work that way. It takes a while to quit but it
possible, you just have to keep trying.
People who cut do not do it because it is 'cool' or because it is 'emo' because it is not
cool and it does not make you emo.
Many people have been talking about cutting like it is nothing. They do not even think
about other people's feelings when they do it. They joke around saying that their friends are
emo and that they are going to go cut themselves. Self injury is not a topic to be taken lightly.
It is not something you joke about.
Self injury happens for many different reasons. Some of those reasons are:
1. They think it helps the pain inside go away.
2. It gives them a sense of relief and calmness.
3.They may feel that they are alone and have no one to tell their problems


4. Self injurers may not know how to express their emotions in any other way
5.It is their way of trying to say "Help me"
6.Sometimes they do it because they think it is the only thing they can control.
7. They think it makes them feel better

There is many different things that can be done to replace self injury. Some ideas are:
1. squeeze peice of ice until it melts.
2. Flick a rubberband against your wrist.
3. Take the dog for a walk.
4. Play with a pet.
5. Hang out with friends.
6. Just go outside and play sports or run.
7. Get away from things you can use to hurt yourself.
8. Do something you like to do.

Self injury sometimes causes complete numbness of the mind. That is why people
say it makes them feel better. It doesn't really make them feel better. It makes them feel
numb. When you cut yourself your body gets used to it more and more so it doesn't
feel as good which may cause you to cut yourself more so you can reach that high
feeling.

Self injury is not something you want to get into. If you have never hurt yourself before
than never think about doing it. If you are already a self injurer than get help.

Do not be ashamed if you are a self injurer. You need to tell someone so you can get
the help that you need. You are not alone and you can overcome it.
If a friend of yours always wears long sleeves,even in the summer, ask them why. If
you see scratches on friend's arm and they say it was a cat, ask. Just ask and be there for
them. Support them in every way you can. Please help raise awareness about self injury.
Something needs to be done. There is a lot of people out there who need help. Self injury
is a terrible thing to go through and self injurers need all the help they can get.