Today’s prompt in the 30 Day Self Harm Awareness Challenge asks
Discuss any and all progress you have made.
I began this challenge on the 4 August 2014. Back then, I was self harming on a daily basis. Every afternoon, I would halt whatever I was doing, take out my cutting implements, and carve love (and hate) on my arms. It was a coping mechanism. the only thing that kept the depression at bay and gave me half a chance of making it through the day unscathed.
It is now the 15 August 2015, and although I have struggled to complete this challenge in a timely fashion, I have succeeded in being self harm free for over eight months now. I no longer feel the urge to cut. I no longer feel the compulsion to injure myself in any way. This is huge progress. For someone who has been self harming on and off since I was thirteen years old, to go so long without feeling the urge to self harm is massive.
It is certainly something worthy of celebration! :)
All that I am, all that I ever was... 
August 15, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Amazing! :)
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August 16, 2015 at 6:53 pm
Thanks. I’m quite proud of myself when it comes to my self harm. Hopefully it will stay that way! :)
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August 16, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Yes celebrate this marvelous achievement. I celebrate with you. It is mighty.
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August 16, 2015 at 6:56 pm
Celebrate I have been. I’m quite proud of myself for not self harming for so long. Long may it continue! :)
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August 17, 2015 at 4:47 am
You absolutely should be celebrating this! I’m celebrating it too.
Also, a friend of mine posted this earlier in the week and I thought you’d appreciate it.
“Probably pretty close to a year ago now, a boy and his mom were shopping for cat food while I was stocking in the pet department. They were talking about the boy, who was 12 years old, having had his heart broken by a girl. His mom asked me how old I was when I had my first boyfriend and if I thought dating was important, and we all joked a little bit about boys and girls and cooties, and they read my tattoos, and it was a fun conversation.
“About 10 minutes later, as I was leaving, I ran into the boy again. He took my arm and asked, “Are those scars on your arms?” I nodded my head and shifted my eyes to the ground until he said, “I cut myself too.”
A 12 year old. I immediately hugged him and promised him that everything would be okay, and I went home, crying…but it didn’t feel right. I wrote him a note that included my name and email and phone number because I didn’t want him to feel alone. I didn’t find him when I rushed right back to Walmart that night, but I keep the note with me almost all the time just in case. My heart shattered for that 12 year old boy telling me that he self-harms.
“Today he keeps coming to my thoughts.
“I hope you’re okay.”
I’ve known this incredible young person since she was about 8. What a joy to see her coming into her own. As are you, my friend!
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August 19, 2015 at 9:40 am
Thank you for sharing that beautiful story. It’s an unfortunate fact of life that self harm (and mental illness in general) doesn’t discriminate against age, gender, class etc. In fact, I was only a year older than that boy when I started self harming. And you’re right, I should be celebrating my achievement! Wishing you a wonderful day! :)
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August 17, 2015 at 11:57 pm
Way to go months is a long time heres to many more and I hope you did something special to celebrate your progress! XX
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August 19, 2015 at 9:26 am
I haven’t done anything to celebrate my progress. Perhaps I should! :)
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