An “Ah-Ha” Moment Could Stop Your Self-Harm

We have all experienced moments that spark a certain thought or make us feel a certain way. For some, an “ah-ha” moment could be a specific lesson an admired professor taught or something tragic occurring on the news. It may be the birth of a family member or the death of a loved one that really stops you in your tracks. Sometimes, these incidents could be the push you need to stop an addiction or an unsafe habit.

Not everyone has experienced an ah-ha moment. Since everyone is unique, everyone takes a different journey when working towards a life free of self-harm. However, many people do experience something that opens their eyes to the positive possibilities life could hold if they were not cutting or burning. It could be a small incident, such as a failing grade (in the grand scheme of things, grades are not of the most importance), or a more substantial situation, such as a loved one passing away that really makes you realize what is important in your life.

When these kinds of emotions strike, it is key to capture everything you are feeling and absorb those emotions fully. When triggers surround you on a daily basis, sometimes you forget how it feels to want to stop self-harming. Sometimes writing the incident down or putting memories on Post-it notes around your living space can be helpful when urges strike. That way, you can see and feel those emotions again and remember why you decided to make the decision so steer clear of self-injury.

It Only Takes a Moment To See Things Clearly

Recently, I dropped off a card to a family that the organization I work for has been involved with in the past (and present). When arriving at the house, I realized the area didn’t seem to be the safest, but their house was lit up like the North Pole and lights were bright inside. After being invited in, I realized that both parents and all five children were spending time together as a family in their main sitting room, smiling and enjoying each other’s company. The reason for the visit was primarily due to one of the daughters being diagnosed with cancer and her disease recently slowing down.

However, as I handed off the card and watched smiles grow when opening it, I couldn’t stop thinking about the beauty of the family. Even with a quiet, five-year-old girl sitting on the couch obviously hurting from the disease, the family was happy to be with one another – that much was very obvious. It showed me that it doesn’t matter where you live or what difficult circumstances you are under, you still can find time to show love for one another and that it is still possible to truly be a family (in this day and age, you don’t see that very often).

Even though I have not cut myself in six years, this moment was an ah-ha moment, to say the least. I’ve visited many children sick with cancer in their homes and in the hospital, but no visit had the entire family unit been together in such happy and strong spirits. It made me realize, again, that people have it worse than we do and they are still capable of finding a reason to smile and a reason to remain brave.

Take in every moment you have and embrace it (as cliché as it seems). You may not think that certain experiences in your life are important, but when you look back, those could be the moments that make you think twice about cutting your skin or making an unsafe choice.