Don’t Let Unexpected Surprises Lead to Self-Harm

Life doesn’t always go as planned. Routines are broken and schedules are never set in stone the way we want them to be. This is because life gets in the way, whether or not we want it to, and it is up to us to handle those bumps in the road.

Some people turn to self-harm as an answer due to something unplanned happening in their life. This can range from getting a bad grade to the death of a loved one. Everyone has a different breaking point and for some, the smallest things can make that break occur.

The most important thing is to look at the big picture and decide how important the issue really is and figure out a healthy way to go about dealing with it.

Stop, Refocus and Find The Support You Need

Recently I was in my father’s wedding. I knew I would be singing a song as the bride walked, but I didn’t expect how emotional I would become watching my two other sisters walk my father down the isle as I waited behind the podium. When I saw this at the rehearsal dinner, I broke down.

It took a little while to get myself together and realize I was being somewhat selfish. I was already going to be getting recognition for my singing, so why did I also need to walk my father down the isle? Some people may see where I’m coming from in that I wanted to be with my two sisters. However, some may also see the selfishness of the situation and it took me a little bit to see that as well.

Luckily, I had my older sister there to help turn things around. She knew I was upset and said some things that brought me back to reality. Being that I don’t see her often, I embraced the fact that she was there and realized what was really important – family.

Prepare Yourself Before Turning to Self-Harm

When you are face-to-face with an unplanned situation, your immediate instinct may be to grab a sharp object and scar your skin. If self-harm is the coping skill you are used to, you know you will find a way to make a mark before really coming to terms with the situation at hand.

What you really need to do is take in all of the angles of what is going on and really think about it. How will this change you in ten minutes or ten years? Will this anger you tomorrow or will it be something you will have to cope with for some time? How will you cope with this without turning to a razor or scissors or a paper clip?

By stopping and analyzing the situation, you will get a better grip on what is going on. It’s hard to do this before your emotions hit you and make you act in ways you don’t expect. But by preparing yourself in the chance of a surprise or unplanned bump in the road, your will be less likely to harm yourself and more likely to find a rational solution.

You can also find Jennifer Aline Graham on Google+, Facebook, Twitter and her website is here. Find out more about Noon through Amazon.com.