Self-Harm Reduction
“If I woke up in the morning and nothing hurt, I would think I was dead. The only time I feel alive is when I cut myself with a knife”.
Have you ever hurt yourself as a means of coping with stress, emotional pain, or traumatic events? Would you like to find safer, healthier ways to deal with your feelings? If the answer is yes, then allow me to help you!
“Getting over painful experiences is much like crossing the monkey bars. You have to let go at some point, in order to move forward”.
When you are a victim of something traumatic, you see the world through discolored glasses. Working through your pain sometimes feels impossible. When you begin your journey of healing, you begin transforming into a survivor. You may not forget all the hurt you have endured, but the difference is that you can deal with it and let go of the painful memories that continue to victimize you.
Eventually, you will look at your experiences as opportunities for growth. You will start to see your own strength emerge, feeling alive once again. You’ll stand up tall and walk with pride. It’s only a matter of time, and the clock starts ticking when you take your first step forward.
Reliving painful memories in our past only takes away from living in the present moment. We are on survival mode. We are not thriving, but merely surviving.
“We cannot change the past, but we can start where we are and change the ending”.
Mental Health Counseling can help you work through your hurt, in place of hurting yourself. It may be a long, slow, and difficult process, but it can be done.
“Distress Tolerance” is a DBT Skill that will teach you how to withstand urges to self-harm, and redirect your thoughts, feelings, and actions with healthier ways to cope with your pain.
One of the best ways to get endorphins to your brain is through 20-30 minutes of exercise/ physical activity each day. When people engage in self-injurious behaviors, their endorphins immediately reach their brain. The goal is to acknowledge your trauma, feel what you need to feel, then move on so it doesn’t ruin your entire day. It does not mean that you will forget about it, but it does mean that you have taken your power and control back. You are in the driver’s seat now, and you determine which way you will go.
Together, we can begin the healing process to help you achieve new strengths, skills, and opportunities that you never thought were possible. You are stronger than you think you are, and I will be here to support you all along the way!
“Your spark will return, and you will shine like you were meant to. You are going to have days when you feel like giving up. Allow yourself the time and space you need to feel what you are feeling. It’s difficult when you catch yourself not being the true you. When you feel like the whole world is falling apart in front of your eyes, do not give up; it may be that your whole world is actually falling into place”.