Advanced Essay #4

3-16-17

Advanced Essay #4

Violence is a book, filled with many stories, but only one truth. However, it can be seen through many perspectives. However it seems to be most common that people think of violence as a physical act, in which could cause damage such as bruises and bleeding. The idea of violence is different for many people. Let’s also think of it as if it  an arrow, it can point in many different directions. It could be towards family, friends, enemies. Generally it isn’t an easy thing to deal with, and sometimes people use it because they don’t know how to deal with their own lives.

Violence doesn’t just include fists, words can also be used harshly against someone. They can be just as bad as a punch in the stomach or being shot in the head with a gun. Someone may use gun to kill someone else, or they could use it against themselves. Self harm can fit within the category of violence, however it can be seen as a coping mechanism, when in reality that not the case.  Causing that kind of harm to yourself, is not exactly the greatest way to `cope with struggles. Seeing self harm as a way to cope, is a perspective that certain people can have. That can become someone's reality, while others may not think that. Others may use self violence in a more mental way, like saying negative things about themselves, or saying that you’re not worth any effort.

I’ve personally had experiences with different kinds of violence. I was tossed on the floor by my own father, I was called several different names, however all of those experiences made it into a bad habit of me pointing all the violence towards myself. Think of that as if it were a routine, something that is consistent, you have other people point the violence towards you so many times. That could cause a negative impact on someone, making them think poorly of themselves. Therefore it becomes that cycle where it actually sticks in your mind, that you should be treated poorly. It begins to become something normal for you. This mainly happens because of the negative impact the people around them give.

Self harms fits into the category of self violence, like a glove. So right off the dot you automatically think about cutting. Well, that’s not the only way of self harming. Mental Health America states that there are multiple different types of self harming such as burning, head banging or hitting. That’s mainly the physical way of self violence. Saying bad things about yourself or someone saying things verbally can certainly have a huge impact on how they see themselves, or how they see other people. It takes time to heal from those sorts of actions. Especially when you basically have to learn how to do it yourself, since you’re the only one who knows what works for you.

Now, I know you're probably thinking; how can I help someone who faces self violence?  How can I help myself when I experience self violence? There are multiple way you can help yourself, and others as well. If someone you love is experiencing self violence, you just need to constantly tell them,”It’s going to be okay”. Remind them how beautiful/handsome they are. Push them through the struggles that they face. When you're suffering from self violence, you feel like the whole world is falling apart. Just know that you’re not alone. There are many ways to help yourself through those bumps in the road. Sarah shared her story on Reachout.com. She told her story through a letter to her old self. The one who suffered so much, it felt like she wasn’t living. It felt like she was dying.