How can I help my best friend who self harms?

First, ask them what they need. Then try as bets as you can to do what they ask for. Sometimes what they need is for you to just be their friend and not get on their case about the self harm. Sometimes they'll ask you to just talk to them so they can resist the urge. Whatever they ask for, even if it's to ignore the scars and not ask about them, do what they ask for. You are their friend, not their therapist. Be just that.

Put yourself in your best friend's shoes. What would you want them to do to help you if you were the one self harming? Be careful not to judge them. They are STILL your best friend - they are still that same person - whether they harm themselves or not. It can be scary to find out that your friend self harms, and it is natural for us to pull away from them because we do not know how to deal with it. This is a time where your best friend needs you more than ever. The worst thing you can do is to abandon them during this time. The best thing you can do is to continue treating them like they are your best friend. Still go out to the movies, have nights in together, talk on the phone. They are probably appreciating these things more than ever right now. Sit down and tell them how their self harm is affecting you, how worried you are about them and how much you care. Let them know that they are not alone.

Show them that it affects you and that self-harm is not the answer. The most important thing you can do is be there for them. Ask them what's causing them to do this. Be engaged and work it out together. And when he/she doesn't self-harm rewards yourselves with ice cream or go see a movie. Move past the pain, don't let it control you.

You can help your friend by being there for them and letting them know that you care about them. The worst thing for a self harmer to be is alone, so give them all the support you can, because they need you

Self harming doesn't just go away. The best thing to do would be supportive. Instead of focusing on stopping the self harming, focus on the cause thereof. If something can be done about the cause then help your friend with the situation. If not, help by being an outlet for your friend. Some people self harm as an outlet. To somehow get negative feelings out of their system. If you can be there for the person to vent to it could reduce the impulse to self harm. If they can get rid of negative emotions by talking to you about their frustrations, shouting, complaining or busting out even, it will help them feel better. Note that you would have to initiate the conversation as someone who selfharms would be likely to avoid taking about the things that bother them because they turn it in on themselves. Be sure to not mention self harming either as that might be a trigger.

*using pronoun "her" for simpleness* Try to remember that you can be there for her as a friend and listen and support her, but you can't be more than that. It would be really helpful of you to read up on self-harm and educate yourself so as to better understand what she going through. You can help her find help and resources such as websites etc. and you can help her talk to other people about it.

First show him that you care and understand him . And then show him some alternatives . Self-harming is a way to express your feelings . But it is a wrong and addictive way . There are other ways to express yourself , like art . Painting, singing ,,etc. he could olso try Hitting a punching bag , Going for a vigorous walk or run Do something relaxing, such as taking a hot bath , If he feels numb Use a red pen to mark where you usually hurt himself Rub ice on his skin where you usually hurt himself Submerge his face, arm, or leg in a bucket of ice water Put elastic bands on wrists, arms, or legs and flick them Writing negative emotions on a piece of paper and ripping it up .... there are a lot of alternatives :) Have a great day and i hope that i helped

People generally self-harm because they feel that it gives them control over their emotions. They typically won't stop until they have an alternative solution. The best thing you can do to help them, is listen. And to not give advise. To help them find an alternative, but not tell them what to do.

I always tell people that self harm may seem like the only answer to your questions, but really it is just one of the many different answers. Most of the time self harm comes from wanting to avoid feelings about a particular subject. It also is a cry for help. Self-harm comes in many different forms but all of them can be channeled into more positive coping strategies.

In this case, I'd say I was that best friend. The first thing to do is understand self-harm. It can be addicting, biologically, because if done regularly, it releases endorphins into your body, and since self-harm is what causes it, your brain craves it. Some people do so sporadically. Whichever the case, recovery is possible. First talk to your friend about how they're feeling and why. Make them feel comfortable so they can talk about their issues. Show that you care for them and want them to get better. Show them that there are other ways to cope, and that they can call/text you the next time they're feeling down. Another step you could take is also referring them to the 7Cups Self-Harm self-help guide. It'll help them figure out which steps they want to take, and how. Listeners are available 24/7 and would be able to help anytime. The group discussions would let them share their stories too, so they feel less lonely. Assure them regularly that you're there for them, that recovery is possible, and that relapses can often be a part of recovery, but it doesn't mean they're the end of it.