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Spring Edition: You are your greatest achievement
Spring Edition: You are your greatest achievement
As I was looking for a common theme between Holi, Passover, and Easter I came across the word, "triumph." While each holiday is celebrated for very different and distinct reasons the triumph or achievement of something spiritual is at the core of each of these. It is likely why they are celebrated in spring when daylight returns for longer periods of time and this got me thinking about what we consider personal triumph and achievement.
"Eyes on the prize" is a very common phrase for motivation that certainly keeps our goals in sight, but how often do we work towards those goals and lose sight of something equally important: how we feel physically, mentally and emotionally? What are ways we cope with the stress to gain these achievements and are they the healthiest options? Can we laugh at ourselves? How much do we love ourselves and others in our community? How can we take this time of renewal and make it ours?
TRIGGER WARNING:
Below you will find information on self-harm awareness (which is recognized on March 1st) and healthier alternatives. Remember, you are your greatest achievement so make the investment in taking care of you and your community. The rest will follow.
Recovery is possible, but it’s not always easy. Stopping self-harm often involves building other, healthier, skills and coping strategies, and then practicing these coping strategies when we have an urge to self-harm. Below is a list of different skills and techniques someone may use in order to help them reduce and/or stop their self-harm. It’s important to also consult with your primary health care provider.
Chill Out
Chill Out
Chill Out (Literally): It may sound funny, but cooling yourself down using cold water or ice has been shown to be an effective way to calm down your nervous system in times of crisis.
For example:
Lean over the sink and splash cold water on your face.
Place an icepack on your forehead.
Hold an ice-cube until it melts.
Sit in a shallow bath with cold water (but don’t sit for too long!)
Distract
Distract
Distract. An urge to self-harm can feel like it’s going to overpower us, but it won’t last forever. Occupying ourselves with enjoyable or distracting activities can help us ride out the urge, without giving in.
Some ways to distract yourself could be:
Watching a funny movie/TV show.
Engaging in some self-care: Taking a bath, using a facemask.
Doing physical activity: Going for a run, doing yoga, playing a sport.
Spending time with a pet.
Toss your tools
Toss your tools
Make your tools harder to access. For example:
Freeze your tools: If you are using something sharp to self-injure, try freezing it in a block of ice.
Lock up your tools: Lock your tools away in a box and give the key to your parents or a trusted friend.
Give the tools up to a parent: Ask them to throw them away for you.
Other
Other
Use henna: Henna is a substance made from leaves that dyes the skin for one to two weeks. You can use it to draw designs or lines on your skin in areas where you may feel the urge to self-harm.
Use technology: In the age of technology, there are several apps that can help manage our emotions and urges right from our phones. For example:
Calm Harm is an app designed specifically to help you manage self-harm urges. You can check out their website here: https://calmharm.co.uk/
Mindshift CBT is an app designed to help manage anxiety, including panic attacks. You can check that out here: https://www.anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-cbt/
Breathr is a mindfulness app. Mindful breathing can be a way to calm your emotions down when they feel out of control. You can learn more about Breathr here: https://keltymentalhealth.ca/breathr
Reach out: Reaching out can feel difficult, but for some, talking it out in moments of crisis can be enough to avoid self-harming. Ways to reach out include:
Talk to someone you trust: This might be a friend, partner or family member.
Call a helpline: The following phone lines are all numbers you can call if you feel like you’re going to self-harm and want someone to speak to:
24 Hr Vancouver Crisis Line: 604-872-3311 or 1-866-667-3311
Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (do not add 604 or 778 before the number).
Suicide Prevention Centre of BC: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
Text/talk online: Sometimes it’s much easier to communicate through text or on our computers. You can use the following resources to do so:
Online Chats: Youth In BC: https://youthinbc.com/
Youth Space: https://youthspace.ca/ or text at (778) 783-0177 Online or text chat.. Available between 6:00pm- midnight.
Kids Help Phone: https://kidshelpphone.ca/ or text CONNECT to 686868
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