I'm scared...

[MyNameIs.]

Hey, so i know a lot of people who self harm and I always try to support them. But has any of you guys advice for me so I can handle it the right way :s

[xXoblivionXx]

I know what you mean, I'm usually the one who goes to someone when I need support but when my friends need support I don't always know what to say. It's easier if you've been what they have so you can relate to them. Just say the truth remind them that they can keep going and that it might get worse (saying that it will only get better is kinda a lie) but it will eventually get better. Getting better, isn't a straight path, they're some bumps and turns along the way.

[These.scars.are.me.]

i am the one all my friends seem to come to with their issues and its part of the reason i cut knowing all of everyones issues not knowing what i can say to who so i just keep my mouth shut. I try to always convince them to see the good things in their lives. i dont try to make them stop because i know it is such a big reason for them being with us still, they all use it as a coping strategy rather than an attention seeking one! try and get to the bottom of why they do it. i try the tough love technique with all of them necause it works with some biut not with others so try the really softly softly approach. pm me if you want to know any other things i use to calm them down when they are at their worst or just need to laugh

[suicidalbutter]

Don't call them "silly" or any other word that can be seen as belittling them for harming. Encourage them to try to reach a time frame. If they do it every day talk to them about it, ask if they could try to maybe not do it for one day. If they complete a full 24 hours without cutting/harming congratulate them. If they make it the full 24 hours and then harm again, don't say it's a bad thing. Just remind them they made it through a whole day without it, and that's a good start. If they do it like once a week or only like twice a week you can encourage those people to try a week without it. Even if they only last two or three days of that week, still congratulate on the progress. Never give negative feedback on it or they won't try to succeed later if you encourage them to try to not do it for any length of time again. This isn't saying "okay" to them harming. It's giving them positive feedback to try to quit.