i’m seventeen and have been struggling with self injury for 5 years i’ve been caught countless times by family school councilors church personals they all try to help and it works for a while but it never lasts, but now for the first time i’m actually worried about it i’m scarred of the affect this has on my little brother who i am sure has seen the injuries on my body earlier this week i came home from school to find him in his room under his blanket – it seemed like he was trying to kill himself. when i asked him why he was doing this he said because he was a goof up and couldn’t live with being messed up tried getting help through my parents but they said the same thing about him as they did me that hes overeacting and its just a stage and nothing will ever come of it i love my baby brother so much i dont know what id do if he really did hurt himself please if you could give me any suggestions on how to help him
It sounds like both you and your brother need some support and help. The people you mentioned – family, school counselors, church folks – those people most likely really want to help. But they can only help if you and your brother are honest and willing to be open with them. Choose one of them that you trust and open up about what’s going on. They can’t read your mind, but if you’re honest – I would imagine they’d jump in and do their best to help. Just like you didn’t know your brother was in so much pain – they also most likely don’t know how much pain you’re in. And just like you’d do anything to help your brother now that you know, I imagine that at least one of the people you mentioned would feel exactly the same way and want to help you both. Trust one of them – reach out. We all need help once in a while.
Pam
poor girl. my baby brother is four and i am always afraid he’ll see the words on my leg or lines on my arm.