Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Depression, anxiety, or even PTSD can lead to self harm, a behaviour pattern that includes things like cutting oneself, an action that could lead to a feeling of control.
Trigger alert: This post contains certain images & descriptions of behaviour that could be disturbing for some readers.
“Hey, Julia, why do you always wear a full sleeves dress?”
“Uh..? Umm nothing, it’s just that I usually feel cold.”
This conversation sounds like a simple one, isn’t it? But it isn’t. This kind of behavior can be a sign that the person is hiding self-inflicting injuries.
Self-harm can be described in various ways. It need not be a want to die but rather deliberate self-injury and non-suicidal injury. This kind of behavior is a clear indication of the person engaging in it is having difficulty in coping with painful feelings.
It isn’t a rocket science to find out whether someone is engaging in it or not. There are some simple signs that you can look for to find out. One of the major signs of this is cut marks on the inner side of the arm. Though there can be many other minute signs that can be seen, like injured fist area caused due to punching or hitting walls / other objects, burnt signs on skin etc. If you see any of these, do not take that lightly. Ask them – ask them to seek help.
Usually, the person engaging in self-harm feels it difficult to express their feelings/emotions – that is the reason to indulge in it. So, they might often try to hide their repercussions of this kind of behavior (wearing a long-sleeved dress, hiding / covering the body scars).
They do their best trying not to come under attention in fear of getting exposed.
Self-harm is generally not similar to a suicide attempt. But, self-harm might sometimes lead to dangerous results; because they are more prone to have suicidal thoughts, increasing their risk to indulge in suicide.
Self- harm can be very much related to anxiety, depression, and trauma to name a few. This has no age criteria and can be seen in people of any age – right from a kid, teenager to an old aged adult.
If ever you come across someone of such behavior or if you doubt whether your loved one is injuring themselves or not, look for these signs. The moment you see it, do not ignore it. Take the right steps. Call the suicide helplines, consult a mental health professional like psychologists or psychiatrist, right today.
If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal, here are some of the helplines available in India. Please call.
Aasra, Mumbai: 022-27546669
Sneha, Chennai: 044-2464 0050
Lifeline, Kolkata: 033-2474 4704
Sahai, Bangalore: 080–25497777
Roshni, Hyderabad: 040-66202000, 040-66202001
A version of this was published here earlier.
Images source: shutterstock
PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLOR FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. MA PSYCHOLOGY, Diploma in Community Mental Health, NIMHANS Former Forensic Psychologist Intern. Former content writer. Double Masters in Computer Applications & in Psychology. B.A in Hindustani Classical Music. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Being a writer, Nivedita Louis recognises the struggles of a first-time woman writer and helps many articulate their voice with development, content edits as a publisher.
“I usually write during night”, says author Nivedita Louis during our conversation. Chuckling she continues,” It’s easier then to focus solely on writing. Nivedita Louis is a writer, with varied interests and one of the founders of Her Stories, a feminist publishing house, based in Chennai.
In a candid conversation she shared her journey from small-town Tamil Nadu to becoming a history buff, an award-winning author and now a publisher.
Nivedita was born and raised in a small town in Tamil Nadu. It was for schooling that she first arrived in Chennai. Then known as Madras, she recalls being awed by the city. Her love-story with the city, its people and thus began which continues till date. She credits her perseverance and passion to make a difference to her days as a vocational student among the elite sections of Madras.
Please enter your email address