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Self-Harm & Suicide

These are scary words! So scary, in fact, that we often struggle to talk about these issues with the ones we love or to admit that we're struggling to those who want to help us.

Everyone struggles with their mental health from time-to-time, but if you find yourself actively hurting yourself or contemplating suicide, it's time to get help.

Often, self-harm and suicide are an attempt to regulate overwhelming and painful emotions: dissociation, depression, fear, etc. When we find ourselves engaging with these things, it is often because it feels like we have no other options. Nothing else has helped. We just want the pain to stop.

You've come to the right place. There is hope. It can get better than this.

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What is Self-Harm? What is Suicidal Ideation?

Not The Same as Suicide

Neither self-harm nor suicidal thoughts are the same as a "suicide attempt". When we engage in this behavior, we're often just looking for an escape from our pain, even if it's short lived. There is a stigma around self-harm and suicide. We don't need judgement when we're wrestling with these issues, we need help and support.

Persistant, Intrusive Thoughts

When we struggle with self-harm or suicidal ideation, often times we will have reoccurring thoughts about acting on these urges. That's our brains way of trying to keep us safe! When you notice these thoughts showing up over and over again, it's a good time to reach out and ask for some help.

Specific Vs. Vague Thoughts

There's an important difference between "I don't want to be here anymore" and "I have a plan". If your suicidal thoughts have become increasingly specific, scroll to the bottom of this page for specific resources to find help. Before we can deal with the problems causing these behaviors, we have to assure your safety as the #1 priority!

Trying To Cope, Escape, or Control

We turn to self-harm and suicide when it feels like we don't have any more options. Often these actions are an attempt to escape our emotion/trauma, make ourselves feel some relief, or obtain a sense of control. The good news? There are other, safer ways to achieve this.

What Causes Self-Harm Behaviors & Suicidal Thoughts?

The short answer? Lots of things!

Self-harm and suicidal thoughts are often linked to things like trauma, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder. All of these conditions cause an enormous amount of psychological and emotional pain. They disrupt our lives, our careers, and even our relationships. Left untreated, we become more and more isolated while the pain gets worse and worse.

It is easy to lose sight of hope when we're in enough pain to consider suicide or engage in self-harm. It feels like we've tried everything and nothing has helped. But I promise: there is hope! You don't have to be alone in this struggle.

Emergency Services

We all struggle from time to time, but it's important to know when we need help NOW.

Therapy is an important part of the healing process, but if you are considering killing yourself, hurting yourself, and you cannot ensure your own safety, then please leave this site and call 911 or mobile crisis immediately. It's important to ensure your own immediate well-being before moving forward with counseling.

Listed below are some resources to connect you with help right now.

911

If you feel that you are in imminent danger of hurting yourself or need urgent medical attention, please leave this site and call 911

TrustPoint Hospital

Call 615-716-1824 or visit

1009 N Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro, TN

A teen and adult inpatient hospital that offers round the clock emergency services

Emergency Room

If you feel that you are in imminent danger of hurting yourself or need urgent medical attention, please visit your nearest emergency room

Suicide Lifeline

Call 988

The Suicide Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Mobile Crisis

Call 855-CRISIS or

1 (855) 274-7471.

Mobile Crisis Services is a highly trained 24/7/365 response team for those who are experiencing a mental health emergency.

Suicide Textline

Text "Home" to 741741

The Suicide Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

How Do We Heal From Self-Harm or Suicide?

Safety

This is priority #1! In order to heal, we have to be out of danger. This means our basic needs must be met: food, water, shelter, physical safety. The brain only perceives safety when the world around us is consistent and predictable. This is why priority #1 in this work is to put out fires and achieve stability.

Connection

We're social creatures. Symptoms of mental health struggles usually disrupt our relationships with others. Healing takes place in relationship: the therapeutic relationship. It is critical to establish trust, rapport, and a strong sense of connection between you and your therapist.

New Tools

Wouldn't it be nice if it was as simple as "stop thinking that way"? But it's not! If self-harm and SI are attempts to cope, we can't take away those tools and leave you with nothing. Things will get worse! We have to replace those coping tools that are hurting us with tools that work for us.

DBT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is the gold standard for working with self-harm and suicidal behaviors. It's full of tools to help us increase our awareness, safely survive crisis situations, manage overwhelming or difficult emotions, and build meaningful and long-lasting relationships.

Quick Coping Tip: TIPP

TIPP: Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing, & Paired Muscle Relaxation. When you feel yourself heading towards crisis, try using ice to lower body temperature, engaging with 10 minutes of high-intensity exercise, slowing down the breath while flexing your muscles on the inhale, relaxing them on the exhale.

How Can We Help?

Our therapist are trained, experienced, and certified in working with self-harm and suicide. We offer individual therapy, group therapy, and occupational therapy to engage you as a whole-person while you work towards healing.

Wounds that happen in relationship are best healed in safe, predictable relationships. Our therapists are ready to walk with you in the dark and guide you when you feel lost. You don't have to heal alone.

CONTACT US

Free Consultation

Schedule

Address

112 S Maple St

Murfreesboro, TN, 37130

Phone

615-212-9141

Email

info@MindTheGapTN.com