"The Emo, Criss-Cross, Red Lines, Kool-aid Killer Cutters"

Recently, stories of adults and children cutting themselves have been presented to members of Black Salisbury.

These stories are somewhat "touchy", however, it is happening in our community.  I am hearing more and more about children who are growing up in situations that are causing them to result to self-harm.  Once these children learn to do this as a way to escape.........they become adults that could possibly result to suicide.  

What would make anyone feel like they have to cut themselves?

Well............reflecting on a past personal situation...........it seems as if the environment that a child grows up in begins to deeply affect the mental development of the individual.  The child will find that they "feel better" once the "pain" is released.  According to Monarch, self-harm is correlated with certain behaviors and symptoms such as low self-esteem, hypercritical parents, depression, hopelessness, impaired family communication, anxiety and isolation (among a list of other symptoms).   They will cut/harm themselves to stop bad feelings, to feel something or just to even get a reaction.

People (children) who self-harm are trying to feel better.  People (children) who attempt suicide are trying to end all feelings.  These individuals are being medically diagnosed with a disorder called Borderline Personality.  This disorder is accompanied by depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), anxiety, eating disorders, or alcohol & drug problems.

Imagine growing up in a home where the parent(s) are drug addicts and/or alcoholics.  Imagine being a child and wanting the unconditional love from family but instead you are neglected and/or beaten while being told that no one cares about you.

These individuals aren't born cutters, they have resulted to the act due to their environment as they were growing up.  This is a coping mechanism and when these children mature to adulthood, their mentality becomes, "I just want others not to worry about me anymore so I'd rather not live."

Do you know someone like this??  If you do, BE THEIR PEACE!!! Be their closest confidant because they need someone in their corner.  It definitely takes a lot for these individuals to open up about what has traumatized them but once they do, EMBRACE THEM!!!!  Hopefully you can be the one to uplift them before they become even more violent to themselves and others.  #EMOWitness

NEED SUPPORT?? CALL 1-866-272-7826 & VISIT https://www.monarchnc.org/understanding-self-harm

~*~Nzuri Asha`~*~