Read on Twitter
CW: self harm
#madtwitter how should we talk about self harm?
What language should we use?
How should it be explained to people who don’t have knowledge/experience of it?
Most importantly, what needs to change in order for self harm to become less stigmatised?
#madtwitter how should we talk about self harm?
What language should we use?
How should it be explained to people who don’t have knowledge/experience of it?
Most importantly, what needs to change in order for self harm to become less stigmatised?
I came across a picture of myself from summer 2019 where I looked happy - I’d just started a new job and was spending a day with my cousins. What I remembered most, though, was boiling to death in long sleeves because I’d hurt my arms pretty badly. Nobody knew. /1
I was very conscious of not rolling my sleeves up, EVER, and hoping that nobody made any “aren’t you warm in that” comments. The hot weather continued and in the first days of the new job I was always wearing a jumper/cardigan. When it became too warm I caked my arms in makeup.
I’ve not hurt myself for several months. It’s nearly always been a secret. I do feel incredibly ashamed, but at the same time it’s addictive - I find it so much easier to cope with physical pain than emotional pain. /3
What strikes me most, though, is that you couldn’t tell (at the time) that I was really struggling.
A reminder to all who claim to care about #MentalHealthAwareness - you CANNOT judge the state of someone’s #mentalhealth just by looking at them (even if you’re a professional).
A reminder to all who claim to care about #MentalHealthAwareness - you CANNOT judge the state of someone’s #mentalhealth just by looking at them (even if you’re a professional).
@MadCovid @EHopeDoherty @angryhacademic @IAmJessPlant @ozzieburton hope you don’t mind me tagging - if you have any thoughts do share xx
