a poem re SELF HARM


Reflections

You think my self-harming means I’m not coping;
I think self-harm is helping me to cope.

You think I’m attention seeking;
I wish people’s attention didn’t need seeking.

You think you know why I self-harm;
I think it would be nice if somebody asked my opinion.

You think I should stop self-harming;
I think you should stop smoking and your fry-ups

You think I’m manipulating you;
I think if you took notice of what I said, I wouldn’t have to.

You think I’m a waste of time,;
I don’t feel people have wasted much time trying.

You feel that if I self-harm I might kill myself;
I think that if I didn’t self-harm I might kill myself.

You think that if you don’t talk to me when I self-harm then I’ll stop;
I think “so what’s new”.

You think that if you stitch me without an anesthetic it might put me off self-harming;
I think there are better ways to teach me to respect my body.

You think you can’t help me while I am self-harming;
I think that if I could stop then I wouldn’t need help!

You think that my self-harm is a big problem;
Often self-harm feels like the least of my problems.

You feel you have to manage my behaviour;
I wish you would just listen to me.

Today you said you couldn’t manage me, you were out of your mind with worry.
You said you felt a failure, because you didn’t have all the answers.
You looked me in the eye and said, “What do you need from me?”

Now I think we can get somewhere...

Anonymous [but very thought provoking]

David