~!*Its Self Injury Awareness Day*!~ Wear Orange!~

[Done-With-It!]

Approximately 1% of the United States population uses physical self-injury as a way of dealing with overwhelming feelings or situations, often using it to speak when no words will come. Despite the fact that self-injury is far from rare, myths and misunderstanding surround this psychological ailment -- mistaken ideas that often result in self-harmers being treated badly by police, doctors, therapists,

and emergency room personnel.

In response to society's mistaken ideas about self-harm, the American Self-Harm Information Clearinghouse was created to educate and inform medical and mental health professionals, the media, and the general public, sorting myth from fact and explaining what is known about self-harm. One of ASHIC's major projects is National Self-Injury Awareness Day.

The goal of the orange ribbon project is to raise the awareness of
"Self-injury" internationally.
Orange
is the universal color for self-injury awareness.

[Done-With-It!]

It's A Confusing Life Self-Injury Awareness Day: March 1 CONNECTICUT WILL BE RECOGNIZING MARCH 1, 2007 AS SELF INJURY AWARENESS DAY. I HAVE RECIEVED AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD) is a global day for the recognition of Self Injury. So far it hasn't been recognized officially by any nation. The state of New Mexico recognized it in 2005. In 2006 the cities of Norwich, CT and New London, CT (both located in the Southeastern corner of the state) also recognized it. This year 2007 Connecticut will also be recognizing it too. Those are the only four places that I know of that have and are recognizing it. This is a grassroots campaign. In order to get recognition you can write to political figures telling them about the day and asking them to do something to get recognition for the day. You can also ask the state for a proclamation. Another option which will bring awareness, is writing to the papers telling them about the day. Also an orange ribbon has become the universal ribbon color to represent Self-Injury. Notes from 2005: The program I was in wore ribbons for 2005. March 1, 2005 happened to fall on the same day of my DBT group and I brought ribbons in for my group leaders and groupmates. We all wore them. As we walkes around the building (all state employees) we were asked what the ribbons were for and ended up passing ribbons out. Also one of the local papers ran my letter the day before. I sent letters to the local papers, local political figures, and T.V. stations. Notes from 2006: The Community Advisory Board I serve on and it's Advocacy Committee which I chair sent a proclamation request to the state of Connecticut. The state denied it. The Board and Committee sent and delivered proclamation requests to New London and Norwich, CT. Both Cities approved our requests. Some of the staff had ribbons for 2006. Notes For 2007: Even though it's only January, I have already sent the proclamation request in. On March 1, my DBT group and I are going to be holding an informational fair at the place we have our DBT groups. It's a big building and we'll be spreading the word. The mayor for our city has already been invited. The state of Connecticut has issued an Official Statement proclaiming March 1, 2007 as Self Injury Awreness Day Some sites with information are: http://www.selfharm.org/publications/sia/index.html http://pennstatebehrend.psu.edu/student/counseling/selfinjury.htm THIS ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND AT http://confusinglife.tripod.com/id20.html

[Done-With-It!]

SELF-INJURY AWARENESS

H O P E
Help, Outreach & Public Education

Beyond the Myth - Many people have misconceptions about what self-injury is, how many people self-injure, and what self-injuries are like. Here are a few facts:

• Recent studies estimate that 1% of the U. S. population self-injuries. That's 2 million people in this country alone.
• Self-injurers can be any age, race, gender, or class. Many people who self-harm are highly achieving students and professionals.
• Not everyone who self harms was abused as a child. Chronic invalidation - constantly being told that your ideas and feelings are wrong or bad - can be enough to trigger self-injury.
• Self-injurers are generally not psychotic and present little danger to others. Most suffer from a mood, anxiety, or personality disorder.
• Self-injury is not a failed suicide attempt. It is done to hold off suicidal feelings and relieve psychological and physiological tension.
• Medication may help , but in order to end self-injurious behavior, a person must learn other ways to cope with distressing feelings.
• Pressuring someone to stop self-harming is counterproductive. Ultimatums don't work. To stop self-injury, a person must be ready to endure the discomfort that comes with losing their major coping method and have some kind of support network set up for the times things get really rough.
• People who self-harm are usually not trying to manipulate or upset others. Hurting themselves has become their way of coping with life's stress. As Louise Pembroke of the UK National Self-Harm Network has said, "If I wanted attention, I'd walk out in the street naked."
• If you believe someone you love is self-injuring, ask about it directly. If he/she is evasive or unresponsive, tell him/her you're concerned and willing to talk when they are ready. Then back off. Get counseling to help you deal with the situation if necessary.

Bill of Rights
for People Who Self-Injure

Preamble
Self-injury remains a taboo subject, a behavior that is considered freakish or outlandish and is highly stigmatized by medical professionals and the lay public alike. Self-harm, also called self-injury, self-inflicted violence, or self-mutilation, can be defined as self-inflicted physical harm severe enough to cause tissue damage or leave visible marks that do not fade within a few hours. Acts done for purposes of suicide or for ritual, sexual, or ornamentation purposes are not considered self-injury. This document refers to what is commonly known as a moderate or superficial self-injury, particularly repetitive self-injury; these guidelines do not hold for cases of major self-mutilation (i.e., castration, eye enucleation, or amputation). Because of the stigma and lack of readily available information about self-harm, people who resort to this method of coping often receive treatment from physicians (particularly in emergency rooms) and mental-health professionals that can actually make their lives worse instead of better. Based on hundreds of negative experiences reported by people who self-harm, the following Bill of Rights is an attempt to provide information to medical and mental-health personnel. The goal of this project is to enable them to more clearly understand the emotions that underlie self-injury and to respond to self-injurious behavior in a way that protects the patient as well as the practitioner.
The Bill of Rights for Those Who Self-Harm

1. The right to caring, humane medical treatment.
2. The right to participate fully in decisions about emergency psychiatric treatment (so long as no one's life is in immediate danger).
3. The right to body privacy.
4. The right to have the feeling behind the self-injury validated.
5. The right to disclose to whom they choose only what they choose.
6. The right to choose what coping mechanism they will use.
7. The right to have care providers who do not allow their feelings about self-injury to distort the therapy.
8. The right to have the role Self-Injured has played as a coping mechanism validated.
9. The right not to be automatically considered a dangerous person simply because of self-inflicted injury.
10. The right to have self-injury regarded as an attempt to communicate, not manipulate.
    © 1998-2001 Deb Martinson. Reprint granted with proper credit to author.

WHY SELF-INJURE?

• Self-injury is often a means of coping to soothe an emotional need of some kind.
• When a person self-injures, they are using physical pain to ward off emotional pain.
• Self-injurers often feel inadequate or unable to trust anyone with their emotions.
• Self-injurers have trouble forming personal attachments, whether it's to have fun or accept comfort from another.
• Self-injurers typically have low self-esteem and may form attachments with abusive or needier persons.
• Cutting is an act of self-medication. When the body is injured, hormones called endorphins are released to fight anxiety, agitation, and depression. The chemical interplay can produce an addiction to the "drug" manufactured by one's own body.

CUT IT OUT!

HOW DO I QUIT?

• Decide to stop hurting yourself.
• Things to do:
  Identify your stressors.
  Take a shower.
  Count colors in a painting.
  Do a surprising, thoughtful thing for someone else.
  Keep your mind and hands busy.
  Be creative.
  Talk.
  Journal.

• Things to say:
  How do I feel right now?
  How will I feel when I am hurting myself?
  How will I feel after hurting myself?
  How will I feel tomorrow morning?
  Why do I feel I need to hurt myself?
  What has brought me to this point?
  I don't need to punish myself for someone else's crime/stupidity/insensitivity.
  Punishing myself won't change others or make the memories go away.

• How others can help:
  Educate yourself.
  Be supportive without reinforcing.
  Don't take it personally.
  Acknowledge the pain of your loved one.

For more information on self-injury and National Self-Injury Awareness Day, please contact the NSAID committee chair at (206)223-9657 or via Internet, Email: llama@drizzle.com
Other resources:

• Personal Counseling - 898-6504
• Health & Wellness - 898-6217
• 1-800-DON'T CUT

THIS ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND AT
http://pennstatebehrend.psu.edu/stud...selfinjury.htm

[Kellie]

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