DD has started to self-harm

[FromDespairToHere]

DD is 22 and like me she has ASD as well as severe depression and anxiety. I used to cut when I was younger, to the extent that both my arms are horrifically scarred.

I am going away tomorrow, just Mon to Sat and in this country. DD has just revealed that she has cut her arm twice this week, with the second time being about an hour ago.

I don't know what to do. I don't doubt that her depression is bad but episodes like this always coincide with me going away or doing something big without her. Also her cutting triggers awful memories of me cutting. I have no idea how to help her.

She is on 2 fluoxetine tablets a day and gets extremely distressed at the idea of counselling after some terrible sessions at camhs when she was younger.

I don't know if I want advice or I need to vent or what.

Sorry to hear that you are both facing this. Can you involve her in chosing a counsellor. My DD revealed to me that although she was terrified about going to counselling it has probably saved her but she was less worried because she and I sat and read through all the counsellor blurb together and looked at pictures and that helped her feel more comfortable.

I picked a short list too.