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Summary of Question:	Self Harm (I Cant Stop, Help!)
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Sunday, 6/23/2002 12:47 PM MDT

satsri akal

i need help as i am sufffering deep inside. i want to know if i will get punished for committing self harm, will i? its just too hard, and i have to let my anger out and do that by taking it out on myself. i have asked a similar question but nobody has replied, please help me find a solution, i cant stop. i have told two teachers at school and they are keeping it in complete confidential. they cant help me, nobody can, but please find me a solution and make me stop. i wouldnt commit suicide but i have tried, i couldnt go through with it. please help me im hurting too much.
(REPLY) You say "no one can help" - but that is not true. What you need is professional help from a psychologist or counselor. Your teachers may be well intended, but the kind of problem you describe needs someone qualified to deal with it. You are not alone, There are many young people today who are dealing with inner anger, and expressing it in self-destructive ways. I am hesitant to suggest anything else to you, because I'm not a psychologist, but I wonder if you have tried to figure out why you're angry, and who you're angry at? And I wonder if you've tried forgiveness? First, forgive yourself for anything and everything that you have done up to this minute in time, and determine to go forward in life with dignity and respect for the body that God gave you as a vehicle to carry God's spirit! Yes, God lives and breathes in you! By chanting God's Name, our Guru tells us, we can EXPERIENCE that One God who created all of us. It takes time and effort, but the reality is that we are already Divine beings, here on earth to learn to be human. You have developed a habit of self-harm, so how about replacing it with a different habit? You could make a pledge to yourself that you will change your behavior, and instead of the self-destructive action, stop and instead sit down and close your eyes and repeat SAT NAM (really loudly if you want!)about 26 times and then think SAT as you inhale, and NAM as you exhale. Can you do that for 11 minutes? It will calm you down. Just do it. Are you spending any time reading from Siri Guru Granth Sahib? Have you explored this SikhNet website? There are some really inspiring things to read about Sikhism, which can help you. May God bless you and Guru guide you to happiness, peace and tranquility. SP