Trigger- self harm

[GrammarTeacher]

I hadn’t self harmed since 2010. I’ve been feeling pretty close to the edge but was proud of myself for not doing it. But two weeks ago a student made told me about an awful assault. All the safeguarding stuff is in place and she’s fine. But my anger and frustration that we’re still failing as a society to educate young men and protect young women has tipped me over the edge and I’m self-harming again. So much is out here f my control
at the moment and so I’m doing this.
I’m not at risk of anything awful at the moment. I’m not cutting. Not sure what I expect from this thread other than practice at opening up.

I have been self-harm free since 2017, and it’s still a battle sometimes. Well done you for resisting for so long. The only thing that helped me was psychoanalysis - all the medication and the CBT in the world did nothing, but it’s expensive and not accessible for everyone.

What can you change to help your life feel more under control? I also SH when depressed, which is anger turned inwards. This might seem a stupid question but ask yourself “who am I really angry at?” because I think there’s a chance that it isn’t who you consciously think it is. My shrink used to say that SH was “cutting off your perceptions”, i.e. a way of avoiding thinking. Not sure if that helps or not, but solidarity and hugs.

Opening up is good. It sounds like hearing the student's account tipped you into quite an intense space, mentally and emotionally.

Are there strategies for managing that helped back in 2010 that have faded now?

You may have it already, but the Calm Harm app can be very helpful.