They are survivors.  If you don’t have respect for their strength you can’t be of any help.  It’s a privilege that they let you in – there’s no reason they should trust you – none.  You can’t know their terror – It’s your worst nightmare come true – a nightmare from which you can never awaken.  It’s unrelenting.  There has been no safety: no one, no time, no thing – all was tainted.  Hope was obliterated – time and time again.  That they are in our office is in itself a supreme act of valor.

-- Posted inside Del Amo Hospital, Torrance California

Therapy

Finding the right therapist takes time and patience.  Trust is a big issue with self-injury.  As a self-injurer, I always wanted to be in control of my pain.  My fear was that someone would take that control away if they found out what I was doing.  Without that control I felt I had nothing.

-- Excerpt from Lisa D.'s book entitled ‘Fine Lines’

Make sure your therapist is comfortable with working with a self-injurer and has had experience in doing so.  Try not to be discouraged if you visit several before you become comfortable with one.  Definitely give the therapist a chance to gain your trust.  Although it’s a professional relationship there must be mutual trust, respect and honesty.   

Medication

Medication is an issue that you and your therapist will have to discuss.  It is not uncommon for self-injurers to find assistance with medications such as anti-depressants, sleep aids and anti-anxiety pills.  There are medications available that assist with impulse thought processes and many times self-injurers find they are able to focus on the issues rather than the compulsions once they have been medically stabilized.  Again, this is something to be discussed with a professional that you feel comfortable with. 

Hospitalization

            Because self-injury is a dangerous coping method, and depending on the severity of your self-injurious behavior, hospitalization may be recommended by your therapist.  There are numerous hospitals that deal with persons who self-harm that are listed in this site.  Hospitalization is usually recommended as an attempt to stabilize the self-injurer so that outpatient therapy can be more effective.