There are a number of members who self-harm. We all know the ultimate goal of those who self harm is to stop one day. Sooner the better, but it is not an overnight thing for a number of us. With that in mind, all self-harmers should keep a first aid kit suited to their needs and to minimize the damage done.

Your medical kit should include:
Gauze
Medical tape
scissors
Sterile saline
antiseptic
Triple antibiotic ointment
Painkillers (NOT aspirin)
Burn ointment (if you burn yourself)
Sharps container

All of this can be found at your local drug-store/chemist. Keep all of this handy and well stocked. A nice box for it will be good, as you should keep all of this in one spot, all together.

Also, if you engage in cutting, it would be wise to keep your tetanus booster up to date.

First Aid for minor cuts:

If or when you cut, always use a new blade. Using a new blade will help prevent bad scarring and lacerations. Dull blades may carry bacteria or other contaminants. NEVER share a blade because of the risk of bloodbourne pathogens. Dispose of your blade in a Sharps container (found in the Diabetes management of drugstores/chemists) or in an empty pill bottle, which you should then hand over to a medical disposal team 9ask your pharmacist where you should dispose of your 'insulin needles.' You can also hand over blades to a 'needle exchange' for drug addicts. DO NOT THROW THEM AWAY AS IS. It is a biohazard and needs to be disposed of properly.

Always staunch the bleeding of your cuts. Apply a clean gauze with pressure. Allow 15 minutes for your bleeding to stop. If the bleeding is not stopping within a reasonable amount of time, you need to seek medical attention. If the blood trickles or oozes from your cuts, then you have a minor wound. Treat with over the counter antibiotic cream and gauze. If the blood does not stop, or pumps out of the injured area in time with your heart, then you NEED TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A call for an ambulance is advised. You may have severed an artery and will need medical intervention. Always apply pressure on the sound to staunch bleeding. If the wound is on a limb, raise the limb above the heart to reduce blood flow to the area and allow for clotting. A deep wound is very serious and should be taken seriously. If you lose too much blood, you may go into shock.

Seek medical attention if:
The cut is deep and you can see the muscle underneath. It may look like a slab of meat.
You have lost sensation in the area of the wound.
The wound continues to bleed after a reasonable amount of time.
The wound appears to be infected.

Burning

If your method of SI is burning, you will need to keep burn ointment, gauze, and a source of cold water close by. After burning, you need to lower the temperature of the wound. Tissue damage from burns can progress very rapidly, so run cold water over your wound for 10 minutes. Burn wounds c an become sticky and if anything is sticking to your burn, DO NOT REMOVE IT. It can make matters worse. If the item stuck must be removed, wet the skin and object until the object comes loose on it's own. Use burn cream on the area and cover with gauze. Change daily.

Seek Medical Attention If:
The burn blisters and weeps. This is indicative of a second degree burn.
If the skin is charred. DO NOT APPLY OINTMENT TO THIRD DEGREE BURNS. Go to an ER immediately.
The burns are wide-spread.

Some people believe that butter or oil will help a burn. Do not use it! It can only damage your skin further.

Beating

Some SI by injuring themselves with blunt force to produce bruises or tender spots. Those who use this method should take an extra pill of zinc and vitamin C daily, to boost healing. Arnica Montana tablets, found at your local health food store, made also help with bruising. Dissolve three to four tablets under the tongue twice a day.

Mental Health First Aid

We all agree that self-harming is not something glamorous nor should it be glorified. It is a very real problem among a number of people all over the world. The first step is to take care of you.

You should keep a 'recovery box.' Take a box, a shoe box will do, and decorate it with thing that make you happy. Pictures of your friends, family, pets, bands, or other things that brighten you up. In the box place more pictures, or write letters affirming you are better than what you are feeling right now, that you do not deserve your wounds, and that you are worth taking care of. Put CD's of music that makes you happy in it to play when you are feeling triggered. Put poetry about your feelings in, or short stories. Any artistic expression of you NOT cutting, overcoming your bad feelings, etc should go in the box. Go to this box when you feel you need to cut. Also, in the box, keep cards with Self-Injury hotlines, or Suicide hotlines to call in times of desperation. Also keep your friends' numbers in the box in case you need to call them and you cannot remember their numbers, as your mind is preoccupied with other things.

None of this is replacement for professional help, and seeking a therapist is highly advised. Remember that your first therapist is not always the right one for you. If you do not feel you can speak with confidence to the first therapist, then go to another, or another, or another until you find one that you are comfortable with. Do not hold back, as cutting spawns from problems unsolved in one's life. Work to fix the problem and the symptoms can then be addressed and taken care of.

Diversions

You feel you need to cut, but do not have access to your Recovery Box. You are getting desperate but do not want to self injure. There are other things you can do to divert yourself until the urge passes.

Constructive things
-write. Do poetry, short story, etc. This is an excellent tactic.
-Draw your feelings
-Go for some exercise. Go running or walking.
-Do some chores

If you feel you need to experience pain:
-Squeeze an ice cube. This hurts lot, but does not leave injury
-snap your wrist with a rubber band
-bite into a pepper or dab hot sauce on your tongue

If you feel sad or angry
-beat the hell out of a pillow or stuffed animal
-make a clay person and destroy it as you wish
-take a picture of yourself and make 'cuts' on the picture instead of you
-take a washable red marker and makes 'cuts' where you want to actually cut
-Flatten aluminum soda cans with your shoes
-throw ice into a brick wall (do this outside)
-Rip up newspaper

Use these methods in the instance you feel you need to cut. These may not always work, and there are more diversions out there. These are only a few.

Last, identify your triggers. Does your mom say things that trigger you? Learn to counteract this by telling her how it makes you feel. Does your Dad come home drunk sometimes? Be asleep when he comes home, or stay at a friends if you know ahead of time he will be drinking. Friends being mean? Those are not your friends, avoid them. Picked on in a certain class? Ask to be moved to another class or go to your school administration. So on and so on.

At some point your SIing may get so bad that it is out of your control. This is when you must tell your parents if you are still a dependent on them. I know this sucks, but sometimes it must be done in order to get help that you deserve. They may become emotional at first, but this is a response to someone they love hurting themselves. Ask them to get you help, that you no longer want to do this anymore, and you need their love and support. If the case is that they will become negatively emotional (violent, etc) then approach a school official or trusted adult instead. You deserve help even if you do not think so now. Getting help is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Might this thread be Sticky-worthy?

I disagree slightly with pain killers as that can lead to a whole other method of self-abuse.

lostandconfused wrote: I disagree slightly with pain killers as that can lead to a whole other method of self-abuse.

I mean like Ibuprofen, not morphine.

Which mod would I talk to about this being possibly sticky-worthy?

awesome tips for people self-harm

This. Is. The. Best. Thread. Ever.

I say this is more than sticky-worthy, and I give you karma.

hrm

for some reason I can't sticky things anymore

Maybe it's just me, I'm not sure

Sorry, I would do it if I could

Thanks for trying, Metal! I appreciate it.

*nudgitybump*