Self Injury Awareness Day is an event that happens every year on March 1. Some participants also call the event Self-Harm Awareness Day. Through this event, advocates work to raise awareness around the world about self-injury behavior.
What Is Self Injury Awareness Day?
Self Injury Awareness Day began as a grassroots event and a campaign to raise awareness. During the weeks before the event, groups host awareness events and organize educational programs. Sometimes, participants wear bracelets, wristbands, and orange ribbons to raise awareness about the event.
Despite the prevalence of this problem, there are still many stereotypes and biases about self-harm. With Self Injury Awareness Day, medical professionals and participants work to remove the stereotypes about this condition. Each year, organizations like YouthNet, LifeSigns, YoungMinds, and the Self-Injury Foundation take part in this event. Through the awareness day, people no longer have to feel like they suffer from self-harm all alone.
Raising Awareness About Self-Harm
Self-harm is a type of mutilation. It happens when someone deliberately tries to damage or hurt their own body. The mutilation can be in the form of cutting, scratching, burning, or other types of injuries.
Many people use self-harm to distract their mind from the problems and mental anguish they experience. These extreme measures are a way to express painful emotions and inner turmoil. Unfortunately, self-injury can only release these feelings temporarily. Before long, the pain and raw emotions begin to build up again.
After self-injury occurs, the individual may feel ashamed and guilty. These negative emotions make it even more likely that they will hurt themselves again. Until they learn a healthier way to cope, they may use self-injury to ease their stress and problems temporarily.
While anyone can have problems with self-harm, this condition happens more often in teenagers and young adults. For many people, self-harming behaviors start because of childhood trauma like sexual, physical, or verbal abuse. Self-harm generally begins as a way for someone to gain control after disturbing, difficult experiences. Before long, their mind learns to use self-harm as a way of coping.
Recovering From Self-Harm
Thankfully, recovery from self-harm is possible. To treat this condition, counselors and psychologists look for the underlying cause of the behavior. By finding childhood trauma recovery and getting treatment for the root cause of the problem, individuals have a better chance of learning new, safe coping mechanisms. Through a counseling program, individuals can find options such as:
- Somatic therapy
- Brainspotting
- EMDR therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Talk therapy
Childhood trauma does not have to take over your entire life. You can overcome your past trauma and self-injury behaviors through counseling and the right treatment program. Call us today at 855-997-7101 to start your journey toward a healthier lifestyle.
