The content of this article may be very triggering if you engage in self harming behaviour; please consider this carefully before reading on.

 

 

Suicidal behaviour.

 

 

If you are at immediate risk of committing suicide, you need to get help immediately. Call the emergency services or got to the emergency room straight away.

 If you are not at immediate risk of suicide, but you are having thoughts of suicide and need to get support, call a helpline to talk about how you are feeling. 

 

 

It is estimated that as many as 75% of patients with BPD make at least one non-lethal suicide attempt, the rate of actual suicide in patients with BPD is between 8% and 10% -  this rate is more than 50 times the rate of suicide in the general population and each incident should betaken extremely seriously regardless of the amount of times the person has previously attempted or mentioned it as many will make multiple attempts.

 

 

There are many reasons behind suicide attempts and no one case will be the same due to the individuality of each persons personal circumstance but there are some common risk factors  for people with BPD including prior suicide attempts, family history of suicidal behavior, history of sexual / physical abuse, financial difficulties/debts, co-morbid mood disorders and substance use disorders, and high levels of impulsivity. 

 

 

Due to BPD being a chronic condition it may lead to more risk of suicide since they do not tend to get better quickly and this may leave some people feeling that there is no other way out/escape from their emotional turmoil. Even in individuals who had no prior plan to end their life may engage in suicidal behaviors in a moment of intense emotional pain without fully considering the consequences.

 

 

However, THERE IS HOPE! 

 

 

BPD is a treatable condition and many therapies are avalible that can help you manage it. There are also many helpful, supportive and caring organisations/groups who can help in many other aspects of your life too, from financial to domestic abuse, bereavment to employment and many, many more! (if you need pointing in the right direction the admins will try to help where possible -  just drop us a message.)

 

 

Self Harming Behaviour

 

 

This is a serious condition and not a manipulative or attention-seeking behavior.

 

 

Self harming behaviours for people with BPD are extremly high - (50 to 80% of cases) and more than 41%  will do it more than 50 times. 

 

 

Unlike suicide attempts, self-harming behaviors do not stem from a desire to die, however, some self-harming behaviors may be life threatening.Self-harming is usually an outward demonstration of an inner turmoil, trauma or crisis.

 

 

As with suicidal tendancies, any one case of self-harming will have a unique group of motivations underlying it. Self-harming behaviors linked with borderline personality disorder include cutting, burning, hitting, head banging, hair pulling, and other harmful acts.The person may feel numb or "dead inside", have extreme difficulty expressing feelings, or find it easier to deal with the physical rather than the emotional pain. 

 

 

“It’s like being suffercated by overwhelming emotions and then suddenly being able to breathe again..."

 

 

Some people find the process of self-harming to be very addictive. The act of harming causes the body to produce endorphin's, which can produce an adrenaline type rush.

 

 

For many people who S/H  it brings relief to whatever they were feeling before hand and due to the “success" of their actions it may lead it to become a habit and part of a daily routine, but like many other negative coping techniques, the effects wear off and gradually need to be increased to reach the “desired effect” each time leading to more frequent and dangerous acts.

So, with prevention being better than a cure,  if/where possible, DON’T START! 

 

 

For those of us who have unfortuanatly started down this path, it doesn’t mean it’s a lifelong journey that you have to continue, there are alternatives and it is possible to stop altogether :)Obviously, it won’t go away overnight, the urges will still exist and the temptation to “give in” will need some serious inner strength but you can do it if you really want to and are committed to trying healthier ways to find relief. 

 

 

Some coping techniques to try are:

 

 

If you self harm to express pain and intense emotions

Paint, draw, or scribble on a big piece of paper with red ink or paint

Express your feelings in a journal

Compose a poem or song to say what you feel

Write down any negative feelings and then rip the paper up

Listen to music that expresses what you’re feeling

 

 

If you self harm to calm and soothe yourself

Take a bath or hot shower

Pet or cuddle with a dog or cat

Wrap yourself in a warm blanket

Massage your neck, hands, and feet

Listen to calming music

 

 

If you self harm because you feel disconnected and numb

 Call a friend (you don’t have to talk about self-harm)

Take a cold shower

Hold an ice cube in the crook of your arm or leg

Chew something with a very strong taste, like chili peppers, peppermint, or a grapefruit peel.

Go online to a self-help website, chat room, or message board

 

 

If you self harm to release tension or vent anger

Exercise vigorously—run, dance, jump rope, or hit a punching bag

Punch a cushion or mattress or scream into your pillow

Squeeze a stress ball or squish Play-Doh or clay

Rip something up (sheets of paper, a magazine)

Make some noise (play an instrument, bang on pots and pans)

Take the necessary precautions to stay safe.

 

If you can't bring yourself to stop just now, at least keep from inflicting irreparable harm upon yourself, no matter how great the temptation to do so:

 

 

Don't share cutting implements with anyone. It's just like sharing needles; you can get all sorts of diseases, like HIV or hepatitis.

 

 

Try to keep cuts shallow.

 

 

Keep first aid supplies on hand and know what to do in the case of emergencies.

 

 

Do only the minimum required to ease your pain. Decide how much you are going to allow yourself to do (how many cuts/burns/bruises), keep within those boundaries, and clean yourself up later.

 

 

Remember that it will take quite a bit of time for you to stop hurting yourself. Do not expect a speedy recovery - take it one day at a time.

 

 

Draw a small picture on your calendar every day you are 'clean'. That way instead of seeing all your scars ect. you see all the days you did NOT harm yourself. This is an easy encouragement and motivation.

 

 

Anyone recovering from self-injury knows that it's always possible to relapse. If you do, try not to worry or feel bad about it. Just start again and continue taking good care of yourself from that point on. 

 

 

I wish each one of you success, coping skills and the ability to see your own worth, you are precious and deserving of care and love...even from yourself.  <3 ~ Emma.