All the information I’ve seen has identified self-injurers as not wanting to commit suicide. Since they injure in secret and don’t want others to know what they’re doing, are there any signs common to self-injurers that would warn loved ones that they may be contiplating suicide ? Some of the blogs that I’ve seen on Tumblr that many self-injurers have set up are VERY dark and scary. Many references to wanting to “fall asleep and never waking up” are very common. Trying to do my best to be informed and understand.
Thanks 🙂
Self injury is not a suicide attempt, but someone who self injures can be suicidal. I hope that makes sense.
Self injury and suicide are similar in only one way–they are both an escape or a “solution” to emotional pain. One is permanent, one is temporary, but they are both a way to escape.
But they are opposite in the fact that suicide is giving up because you’ve had too much, and self injury is striving to stay alive and keep going.
Suicide is hard to understand and different from person to person. I never gave anyone any sign that I was contemplating it. But if your daughter posts something like she wants to “fall asleep and never wake up” I would take that seriously and just be aware. If she starts being careless about life and doing dangerous things (I used to do risky things) then suicide could be something she is contemplating. Just be aware of her actions. Little things can mean something huge.
I hope this helped 🙂