lumos394:

If you see a person who bites their nails, gently remove their hands from their mouth. Keep holding their hands even if you’re uncomfortable, because their fingers are sticky/wet from saliva. They need someone who isn’t disgusted. They are emotionally unstable or nervous. Nail biting IS self harm.

If you see someone rubbing their wrist, gently stroke their arms, from their shoulder to their wrist. Theres a high possiblity thay they stopped self harming and they might feel better if they know you aren’t disgusted with them. Another possible reason is that they are still self harming and sometimes even a simple touch that shows them you care, can make them stop.

If you see a person scratching their arms/ other body parts, hold their hands, while rubbing soothing circles on their wrist or forearm. Scratching obsessively IS self harm. Or it is an indicator that they are cutting and they feel the need to cut, but they don’t have a sharp object near them.

If you see a person with bitten nails. Hug them tight. If you see a person with red marks from scratching all over their arms, hug them tight. If you see a person with scars hug them tight. Of you see a person with scars on their heart, hug them even tighter.

Never force these people to talk to you about it. You may ask a simple ‘why’, they will either answer you or say I dont know. If they say they don’t know, they probably don’t know. Leave them be but always wait by their side until they are ready.

Self harm isn’t just cutting. It can be as simple as obsessive nail biting. Please dont ignore these people, please take a second and aknowlege their existence.

A person who self harms can be the kid across the street who has everything, loving parents, friends ect. It can also be the kid from your history class who never met his parents. Just because someone has everything, doesnt mean they don’t have reasons. No, they aren’t attention whores. Please never think that. Try to understand them.