SELF-HARMING Can one pain alleviate another? T hi s practice, also known as cutting, consists in hurting one's body in order to alleviate pain resulting from feelings of anger, anguish, sadness, r ejection, abandonment , e mpt ine ss , depression... Despite Symptoms of Self-Harm • Scars • Fresh cuts, burns, scratches, or bruises • Rubbing an area excessively to create a burn • Having sharp objects on hand • Wearing long sleeves or long pants, even in hot weather • Difficulties with interpersonal relationships • Persistent questions about personal identity • Behavioral and emotional instability, impulsiveness, or unpredictability • Saying that they feel helpless, hopeless, or worthless These symptoms are adapted from the Mayo Clinic. practiced being by people is of different ages, self-mutilation more common among adolescents and young people, especially females. The modern epidemic, as seen by many experts, increased by 70% in the age range between 10 and 14 years, according to data from the National Health System. According to a YouGov poll, one in four men are turning to selfharm due to depression, anxiety and stress. Many men who were surveyed said that they would turn to over-exercising, hair-pulling and taking drugs when they felt under pressure. 21% would drink heavily, 19% would punch walls as an outlet for stress and 16% would turn to controlled eating. These statistics are a clear sign that women are not the only victims of depression and stress; but an increasing number of men are suffering with mental health issues, too. From image insecurities to today’s pressures on young people, more people are succumbing to symptoms of depression and anxiety, among others. Although medication and psychotherapy help alleviate the anxieties and frustrations felt by those who suffer from this problem, they can not guarantee cure. So, you have to look for other ways of dealing with this situation. For writer Cristiane Cardoso, the strength within each person, that is expressed through selfmutilation, can be transformed into an inner strength capable of putting an end to this suffering. Cutting gave me Being the only child from my father made me feel like the odd one out. It was as if my father had split the family up. I wondered if it was my fault. Watching my family selfdestruct created a pain that literally forced me to run from them. I would avoid them and do whatever I could to stay away. At the age of nine, I had strange experiences at night. tried to fight it, but the force wou overwhelm me. I’d try to scream for help, but m vocal chords would tie up and sound would come out. This was frequent occurrence. Everything was becoming too mu for me and I was fed up. Suicid thoughts plagued my mind and an attempt to relieve myself of t pressure, I started self-harmin With every penetration the bla
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