Summarize the following:
The release found from self-harm is short-lived. Soon enough, painful emotions like guilt or shame creep in and prompt the need to self-harm again. This addictive, cycling quality of self-injury is partly why it is so dangerous. You may start to lose control and do more damage than you intended or actually attempt suicide. What's more, mental illnesses like eating disorders as well as alcohol and substance abuse may further reduce self-control and intensify the damage of self-injury. This behavior can expose you to bigger problems down the line. The only way to overcome self-harm is learn to cope with your emotions. The burden of keeping self-harm to yourself can become lonely. Once you accept that you need help, it's important to think about a supportive person who you can talk to. Perhaps you can choose someone with whom you have shared confidential information in the past without the person gossiping or judging you. Let your friend know that you need to talk. Try to have such a conversation face-to-face. Explain why you are telling her/him this, how you feel, and allow her/him to process the information. You might say something like this "I have been keeping this secret for a long time and you're the only person I feel comfortable sharing it with. I have been hurting myself. It's getting worse, and I'm scared. Please help me". If you do not have anyone close to confide in, you can talk to your school counselor, a teacher, a coach, a religious leader, a friend's parent, or your family doctor. Any of these individuals should be able to offer you support and refer you to a mental health profession in your area who has experience with self-injury. Once you have identified a therapist who might be a good fit for you, set up an appointment. One type of effective treatment strategy for self-injury is dialectical behavior therapy which focuses on teaching you to regulate your emotions, manage and tolerate life stressors, practice mindfulness, and improve your interpersonal functioning. In the first session, you can expect for the therapist to ask you basic questions about your behaviors, thoughts and feelings. He will also try to learn more about you - your life, your school/work, your family, and your background - in order to personalize treatment to fit your unique circumstances. Some adolescents may also benefit from taking part in family therapy which strives to identify barriers to your recovery and assists family members with understanding what you are going through and being more supportive. Feeling disconnected and alone in your suffering is common with self-injury. Getting involved in a local or online support group that enables you to talk with other teens who are going through the same thing can give you hope and make you feel less isolated. One particularly effective support group is called S.A.F.E., which stands for Self-Abuse Finally ends. Find a support group in your area.
Understand why you should stop. Confide in someone you trust. Seek help. Participate in therapy. Join a support group.