Self-harm is injury inflicted by a person upon her or his own body and often involves shallow cutting, punching, slapping, or burning oneself. The usual thought process behind self-injury is not to attempt suicide, but rather to relieve unbearable emotional pressure, or to control something in an otherwise uncontrollable world. In fact, self-harm might be seen as the opposite of suicide, as it is often a way of coping with life rather than giving up on it. This space is not in any way intended to encourage self-harm, and if you feel vulnerable to “triggers,” we suggest you stop reading now. But SHOUTOUT FROM THE CUTTING EDGE is meant to provide self-harmers with a safe and non-judgemental place to write about their lives.
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