Hi. So I know some of the people on KidzTalk/KidzNet are depressed, have cutting issues, and/or other addictions. I want to try giving some advice to help. Both of these things have actually helped either me or people I know, so if you have one of the things I mentioned, try these.
1. Now, I know you have probably heard the advice, "talk to someone", "talk to a therapist" a million times, and even though it can help, it doesn't always help just talking. There is something actual therapists will use though to treat things like depression or addiction, it's called cognitive behavioral therapy. It's something you have to do on your own. The first step is recognizing your own bad thoughts, like say, for depression, you might get thoughts saying you are unloved. You need to identify that and take note of it. Next, counteract it or dismiss it. Think, "No I'm not.", or "No, I know there are people who love me". Keep doing that, more and more. It might not work at first, but the more you say something, the more you believe it, after all, you started to believe those darker thoughts at some point, didn't you? Same with addiction, using one of the posts in May as an example, vaping. If you feel the urge to vape, identify that, anything like "I need it", "just one more" and things like that. Counteract, "No, I don't", "I've had enough". Keep at it. This method was what helped me fight depression because the night I fought against the demons in my head, I told them that I was perfect the way I am and that I deserve to be happy. I could literally feel the release from me taking my own mind back, and it was liberating. That was what made me better, was believing I was worth it.
2. If you have an addiction, including cutting, then try an app like I Am Sober, or any sobriety app. Generally speaking, you type in each time you cut, vape, or whatever, and it will track how long you've stopped doing that each time and most have positive messages. One of my friends uses these, and it helps him a bit.
