There's Always Light at the End of the Tunnel

Here are some useful websites that you can use when in a time of distress or you just need someone to talk to. www.aware.ie www.bodywhys.ie www.grow.ie www.headsup.ie www.letsomeoneknow.ie www.menatlhealthireland.ie www.shineonline.ie www.spunout.ie www.barnardos.ie www.headstrong.ie

On the road to recovery it is important to find other things that you can do instead of hurting yourself. I found that it was a good ideal to write a list of things that I could do so that in times of distress I could go to my list and pick something to do. It may help to do these activities a number of times during the week even if you don’t have an urge to self-harm. That way when you get the urge you will have already been use to doing some of these replacement activities. One of the things that I found really worked for me was placing my hand in a bowl of ice. I bowl full of ice. It took me a while to start using it because I felt that it was weird. I soon got use to it and now if i am really struggling I will put my hand in a bowl of ice. I would suggest trying that because I have found it to work well and it might work well for you too. It’s painful at the start but it helps relax me. Give it a go and see if it helps you. It’s worth a try. Some of the other things that yo...

Using images to create a calm place to go to in your mind when you are feeling overwhelmed or you want to harm can help you to beat the feelings and urges. Try to create a safe place in your mind it can be anything that you want or any place that you feel safe in and that you are in control of what is going on. This can be hard to do but with practice it becomes easier to do.  It is important to use as many senses that you can when creating your safe place. The more senses that you use the better you will feel. My safe place is at my athletic track. Here i feel in control and I am happy here. I imagine the sounds of the coaches talking and the sound of the children laughing and playing. The sound of the older athletes Talk or complain about school or the leaving cert. I feel the wind in my face or the sun on my skin. I fell in control and alive. I feel safe her and I am happy because I am doing something that I love. I can smell the freshly cut grass and the smell of spring. ...

We are getting closer and closer to the annual darkness into light walk. This event gives hope to all those who have been affected by suicide and self-harm. I myself have been affected by self-harm as many of you may know from reading my blog. I would love to take part in the walk but due to scouts I am unable to this year but maybe next year. I will make it my goal for 2013. the walk was set up by Pieta house and you begin the walk while it is dark and finish while it is bright. Walking from the dark relates to the dark place that many people find themselves in when they are struggling with self-harm and or contemplating suicide. Beginning in the darkness is like beginning on the road to recovery, it begins in a dark place but slowly but surely it becomes bright and brighter. I have had experience with this and I have to say that for me this statement is true! You can register online for the Dublin, Phoenix Park ev...

If you are a person who is struggling with self-harm and you feel that you are ready to face it head on and want help a great place to go for help is Pieta House. "Pieta House, set up in 2006, was the first centre in Ireland that  specialised  in the prevention of self-harm and suicide. Pieta is an alternative way of helping people in crisis, but it is also a way that encourages collaboration with hospitals and doctors. Before Pieta, people who were suicidal would often end up either in hospital, in a psychiatric unit or heavily medicated - sometimes all three. In many cases, patients were put on 'suicide watch', a procedure that involves the patient being watched by a nurse or carer every moment of every day - even while having showers or using the toilet. In some cases, this was the only way to guarantee the patient's safety - there was no alternative, and whether we liked the practice or not, lives were saved. However, we were convinced that there had ...

When you are sick with a mental illness or any illness you can often have a low opinion of yourself. I know when I was sick and in hospital I saw myself as a cutter. I was nothing more just a cutter. During my recovery I learned that I was much more than that. Before I got sick I was a different person and I was still that person inside but I just couldn’t see that myself.  I had to think about who I really was. I had to forget that I was in hospital and that I self-harmed because I was not just a cutter I was a person who has a mental illness that doesn’t mean that’s who I am. I took some time to myself to find out who I am I thought back to before I was sick. I was a kind caring fun person. I had many talents that I would not make public but I knew I had them. I was a hard working and motivated student and you know what I was still that person, I still am that person. I am not crazy or mad I am Siobhán. I am not a cutter I am Siobhán. I am not depressed or anxious I am Siob...