March 1st marks self-injury awareness day.  For many, recovery from self-injury can be a long journey. Like any unhealthy coping strategy, it may take a while for an individual to even want to change. Often, people self-harm because it brings relief during moments of intense emotional suffering. Someone may be experiencing overwhelming feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety or numbness. When they engage in self-harm, their overwhelming feelings may temporarily be relieved. 

We all have protective factors in our lives that help us be resilient when faced with challenges. We tend to underestimate our strength and what our mind and body can handle.