Kirsty's story
I’m Kirsty and I’ve been getting support from Laura, one of Self-Harm Network Scotland’s Peer Practitioners.
The support was great. I honestly feel like this has been the most helpful support I’ve had over the years in my mental health recovery. I finally feel relief in believing I don’t have to act on my self-harm urges when they come into my head. Understanding and digging deeper into my thoughts has really helped me get to where I am today.
The support from Penumbra’s Self-Harm Network Scotland service has really positively changed my perspective of my mental health struggles. I found it really helpful having the opportunity to break down my thoughts of self-harm and working on them from there. I now don’t act on my self-harm urges as they come and go a lot less frequently and I’m able to let the urge pass.
"I honestly feel like this has been the most helpful support I've had over the years in my mental health recovery."
To be honest, I don’t know what the future holds, however that doesn’t scare me nearly as much as before because there was a time for so long, that I didn’t see myself having a future. I’m trying to sit in the now and do things I enjoy whilst I navigate what I want to do with my life, prioritising things that make me happy and pushing myself to try new things.
I hope people take the opportunity to receive support. You might be at your lowest point and believe nothing will shift those urges and thoughts, but you might just surprise yourself. You’re stronger than you believe, and these moments will ease and pass.
Thank you for sharing your story, Kirsty.
