Many myths have a kernel of truth within them, and this is as true of self injury myths as it is of others. I have read, over the years, many webpages talking about these, but I have come to believe there is some truth in them. The most commonly trotted out myths are: Self injury […]
G2SI: For Loved Ones
September 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
When I started self injuring, I didn’t know what to say to anyone. I knew I was feeling absolutely awful, that my mind was churning up with horrible thoughts and feelings, but I didn’t know how to ask for help. It was the self injury that propelled me to a doctor, but it was some […]
G2SI: Why Do People Self Injure?
September 10, 2012 by 4 Comments
Reading through the books I own on self injury I can see that there are many reasons given as to why we hurt ourselves. One thing that is consistent is that self injury is thoroughly entangled with our emotions. Many self injurers suppress emotion and perhaps come from backgrounds where emotion is not to be […]
G2SI: What is Self Injury?
September 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Self injury (SI) is described as “an act which involves deliberately inflicting pain and/or injury to one’s own body, but without suicidal intent.” [1] Another definition, from the Christian psychologist Dr Kate Middleton states that self injury is: “acting to deliberately injure yourself physically in an attempt to cope with, express or reduce intense or […]
G2SI: Introduction
September 6, 2012 by 2 Comments
Self injury is a serious, and relatively common problem. Women and men, children, teenagers and adults self injure, and it can happen to anyone, from any race, background or culture. A study suggested that between 4.6% and 6.6% of the UK population had self injured although this may be an under-reporting as another study showed […]
Rest and Our Souls
July 10, 2012 by 10 Comments
Resting, both with sleep and with relaxing while awake, is important for our mental health. Mental ill-health can make us wide-awake when we desperately wish not to be, may be triggered by overwork and a lack of rest, and may lead us to be constantly exhausted. Rest also has a spiritual purpose, rest for our […]
Christians and Suicide
July 9, 2012 by 3 Comments
If you are feeling suicidal, please consider calling or emailing The Samaritans… I have been suicidal many times. I have seriously attempted suicide several times. My bipolar disorder (which, in me is characterised by deep depression) has led me close to the brink of death by my own hand. I have to say that when […]
Reading the Bible as a Mentally Ill Person
June 30, 2012 by 13 Comments
I remember when I was given a “proper” Bible. I was about thirteen and the Gideons had come round to my school, handing out pocket New Testaments in the NIV translation. I don’t think I really read it at that time, aside from when we were covering Mark’s Gospel in RE class, but I have […]
Justice for the Sick and Disabled
June 26, 2012 by 2 Comments
I rarely get angry, but the current political situation in the United Kingdom is something that has been making me very angry. At present, the rhetoric and policy surrounding sick and disabled people has been devastating to a population already more likely to live in poverty. State benefits needed by disabled people to meet the […]
Benefits of Bipolar
June 22, 2012 by 3 Comments
I honestly thought I would never in my life write that there are any benefits to being bipolar. The very worst times of my life have been when I have been unwell, and my life has been forever changed because of my illness. Now, some ten years since diagnosis, I have come to a position of wellness. […]
Believer's Brain 