Magazine articles about self harm...

Cedrus · 27-06-2013, 09:34 AM

I’ve seen a few articles in the past telling the story of someone who has struggled with self harm and that are now recovered. Before i say anything else, I need to reiterate that all self harm is worrying and that, regardless of severity, it is indicative of real struggles and hardship internally.

Many times you see the article and a picture of the person who self harms and there scars aren’t too extensive/sometimes barely visible and they talk of their recovery and how things are so much better now and they’re getting on with their life etc. But it doesn’t portray or highlight the fact that self harm can get vastly out of control and that you can end up with severe scaring that is there for life. That regardless of recovery and leaving the behaviours in the past, you still have to manage and cope with the consequences.

I’m not sure if I’ve explained myself well but I just mean, maybe the magazines are missing out the fact that, for many people, you end up have scaring for life and other permanent results and it’s not just the case of getting better and moving on. It might appear that i’m only talking about the aesthetic side of things, but covering up during summer, not feeling able to do activities such as swimming, trying to sort out wearing long sleeves for work etc are all frustrating and upsetting consequences.

To summarise my point, I think that people should be made more away of the long term consequences of self harm.

But then, I guess conversely, if someone self harming saw a magazine with someone with severe scaring it may make them feel inadequate (the destructive mindset) or trigger them to self harm more severely.

What are your thoughts?

griddlebone · 27-06-2013, 09:41 AM

It also probably has something to do with pictures of severe scarring/cuts etc will probably be offputting/upsetting to a lot of people, particularly those who have no experience with self harm.

I think the articles that I have read on it (although thats not many) have always made it clear that it can spiral out of control, usually because they interview people who say that.

Bellatrix · 27-06-2013, 09:47 AM

I found the opposite. I was asked to do one of those articles and was constantly asked for 'deeper' wounds and bigger scars for pictures, as well as 'thinner' pictures of me with 'more bones' for the ED side of the article.

I quickly rejected the offer.

Cedrus · 27-06-2013, 10:50 AM

Griddlebone, thats a good point, not sure why it didn't cross my mind, but thanks for highlighting it. I would find it off puting if fresh wounds were shown.

Theprincessofdenial, what was their reasoning for wanting more extreme pictures?

I guess it's a bit of a doubled edged sword.

tamobhuuta · 27-06-2013, 01:56 PM

I think showing scars in these articles is really unnecessary, it doesn't help anyone.

Bellatrix · 27-06-2013, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cedrus

Theprincessofdenial, what was their reasoning for wanting more extreme pictures?

Extreme stories sell.

GossipGirl-xoxo · 03-07-2013, 02:02 AM

Well I have been self harming for four years and it is not getting any better. Mine is slowly spiraling out of control. Im not sure. Anyone who intentionally hurts themselves is obviously in need of sort of help. But I agree that these people have probably only suffered about a year maybe two at most as they got help early. But for those of us who aren't so lucky or have gotten help but it hasn't worked this is an unrealistic view. Not sure if I explained myself properly there but that's my opinion on the subject.