Real Life

by Fran

"I'm a recovering self-harmer"

"I'm a 15-year-old recovering self-harmer.

I started self-harming when I was seven years old. I had difficulties going on at home with my family and I couldn't cope. I would just scratch my arms without thinking about it.

As the years passed my self-harming just got worse and I began cutting my arms. I ended up being diagnosed as depressed, and I was prescribed medication.

Just before Christmas in 2002, I had a bad episode of self-harming. I overdosed and had to be hospitalised for four days. After this my medication dosage was doubled.

I started seeing a psychiatrist but it didn't help. I saw a counsellor instead and that seemed to be more useful.

I ended up taking medication every day for about a year. Then my doctor finally said that it didn't seem to be improving the way I felt.

My best advice for coping with self-harm and the thought of self-harming is to talk about it or just speak to people in general. This takes my mind off of how I feel, and helps me to sort out my feelings. I am recovering well now - I have counselling and family support, and I am learning to enjoy my life again."

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