Hello, I have previously harmed, I told my mum and she was excepting about it, she made me promise that I wouldn't do it again, I didn't for a while, and then I started again. This made me think that, should I tell someone. If that makes sense, not a family member, do I need help? Does anybody who harms need 'help?' I don't know what to do, but I really know that I wouldn't feel comfortable telling my mum again. Do you think I should forget about it or do you think I should tell someone??
Sam
Hi there,
Thank you for sharing with me that youre still harming yourself. I think you've made a very brave first step by telling me.
Talking about your feelings and how you are coping with them can be a really helpful way to start feeling more positive about your life, but deciding who to talk to can be really tricky.
I can see that you told your mum once before about self-harming and that she accepted this and made you promise not to do it again. This can be such a difficult promise to keep, especially if there are still things going on in your life that make you want to self-harm.
Perhaps you could think of a friend or an adult who you trust who you might be able to talk to. Choosing the right person is important and you could find it useful to read our new page about asking an adult for help. Sometimes writing things down can really help get your thoughts in order and make it clearer what you want to say.
Youve asked if anybody who self-harms needs help, this is a difficult question to answer as self-harm is really personal and I know that it can help a lot of young people cope with their problems and feelings. Self-harm can also be really dangerous. I always tell anyone who self-harms that they need to keep their injuries and anything they harm with clean and to seek medical attention by calling 999 if needed.
It is really important that anyone who self-harms knows that there is help and support available for them from ChildLine. You can read more about self-harm on our website or talk to a counsellor on a 1-2-1 chat, by email or by calling free on 0800 1111. ChildLine is here for you 24/7 and we are free and confidential.
The counsellors are there to listen to you and to support you.
Take care Sam
Need help straight away?
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
Ask me a question
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
