Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts: Finding Hope and Healing in Your Darkest Moments

Break free from self-destructive patterns, process overwhelming emotions, and build a life worth living through specialized therapeutic support

If you’re reading this page, you or someone you care about may be struggling with self-harm behaviors, thoughts of suicide, or overwhelming emotional pain that feels unbearable. These experiences can feel incredibly isolating and shameful, but it’s important to know that you’re not alone, these feelings are more common than many people realize, and most importantly—help is available and recovery is possible.

Self-harm and suicidal thoughts are often responses to emotional pain that feels too intense to bear. They may serve as ways to cope with overwhelming feelings, communicate distress, or regain a sense of control when life feels chaotic. While these behaviors may provide temporary relief, they can become dangerous patterns that ultimately create more problems and increase emotional distress over time.

At Therapy Telemed, we provide compassionate, specialized care for individuals struggling with self-harm, suicidal ideation, and emotional crisis. Our experienced therapists understand the complex factors that contribute to self-destructive behaviors and work with you to develop healthier coping strategies, process underlying emotional pain, and build a life that feels worth living.

If you are in immediate danger or having thoughts of ending your life, please reach out for immediate help:

• Call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) – available 24/7
• Text “HELLO” to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)
• Go to your nearest emergency room
• Call 911

Understanding Self-Harm and Its Functions

Common Forms of Self-Harm

• Cutting or scratching skin with sharp objects
• Burning skin with cigarettes, matches, or other heat sources
• Hitting, punching, or bruising yourself
• Picking at wounds or preventing healing
• Hair pulling (trichotillomania) or skin picking
• Intentional overdoses or poisoning
• Reckless behaviors that risk physical harm

Why People Engage in Self-Harm Self-harm often serves specific psychological functions, including:

• Emotional regulation: Managing overwhelming feelings like anger, sadness, or numbness
• Self-punishment: Expressing guilt, shame, or self-hatred
• Communication: Showing others the depth of emotional pain when words aren’t enough
• Control: Regaining a sense of agency when other aspects of life feel uncontrollable
• Sensation seeking: Feeling something when emotionally numb or disconnected
• Self-soothing: Paradoxically, providing temporary relief from emotional distress

Understanding Suicidal Thoughts and Crisis

Types of Suicidal Ideation

• Passive suicidal thoughts: Wishing you were dead or could disappear without actively planning
• Active suicidal ideation: Specific thoughts about methods or plans for ending your life
• Suicidal intent: Serious consideration or planning to act on suicidal thoughts
• Suicidal gestures: Self-harm behaviors with some intent to die, even if ambivalent
• Suicide attempts: Direct actions taken with intent to end one’s life

Warning Signs of Suicidal Crisis

• Talking about wanting to die, kill oneself, or having no reason to live
• Researching methods of suicide or seeking access to lethal means
• Dramatic mood changes or sudden improvement after depression
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities
• Giving away prized possessions or making final arrangements
• Increased substance use or reckless behaviors
• Expressing feelings of hopelessness, being trapped, or being a burden

Common Underlying Factors and Risk Factors

Mental Health Conditions

• Depression and mood disorders
• Anxiety and panic disorders
• Borderline personality disorder
• PTSD and trauma-related disorders
• Eating disorders
• Substance use disorders

Life Circumstances and Stressors

• Recent loss, trauma, or major life changes
• Relationship problems or social isolation
• Financial stress or job loss
• Academic or work pressure
• Bullying or discrimination
• Chronic illness or pain

Historical and Developmental Factors

• Childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma
• Family history of suicide or mental illness
• Previous suicide attempts or self-harm
• Early loss of important relationships
• Chronic invalidation of emotions during development
• Exposure to suicide or self-harm in others

Our Crisis-Informed Approach to Treatment

Safety Planning and Crisis Intervention Our first priority is ensuring your immediate safety. We work with you to develop comprehensive safety plans that include identifying warning signs, coping strategies, support people, and steps to take during crisis situations.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills DBT is specifically designed for individuals who engage in self-harm and suicidal behaviors. We teach practical skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress without harming yourself, and building a life worth living.

Trauma-Informed Care Many people who engage in self-harm have histories of trauma. We provide trauma-sensitive treatment that addresses underlying traumatic experiences while prioritizing safety and stabilization.

Collaborative Safety Planning We work together to identify your unique triggers, warning signs, and most effective coping strategies. Safety planning is an ongoing, collaborative process that evolves as you develop new skills and insights.

What to Expect in Treatment

Immediate Safety and Stabilization Treatment begins with ensuring your safety and developing strategies for managing crisis situations without self-harm or suicidal behaviors. This includes creating detailed safety plans and building your support network.

Understanding Your Patterns We work together to understand what triggers your self-harm or suicidal thoughts, what functions these behaviors serve, and what emotions or situations are most challenging for you to manage.

Developing Alternative Coping Skills You’ll learn healthier ways to manage overwhelming emotions, including distress tolerance techniques, emotional regulation skills, and self-soothing strategies that don’t involve self-harm.

Processing Underlying Issues As you develop greater stability, we address underlying factors that contribute to self-destructive behaviors, such as trauma, depression, relationship issues, or life stressors.

Building a Life Worth Living Recovery involves more than just stopping harmful behaviors—it’s about creating a life that feels meaningful, connected, and worth living. We work on identifying your values, goals, and sources of meaning and purpose.

Relapse Prevention and Maintenance We develop strategies for maintaining your progress, recognizing early warning signs, and preventing return to self-destructive behaviors during times of stress or crisis.

Specialized Treatment Areas

Adolescent Self-Harm and Suicidal Behavior

• Age-appropriate safety planning and crisis intervention
• Family therapy and communication improvement
• School-related stress and peer relationship issues
• Identity development and emotional regulation skills
• Coordination with parents, schools, and other providers

Chronic Self-Harm and Multiple Suicide Attempts

• Intensive safety planning for high-risk individuals
• Treatment for complex trauma and severe mental illness
• Medication coordination and hospitalization planning when needed
• Long-term recovery planning and relapse prevention
• Building hope and motivation for continued living

LGBTQIA+ Identity and Minority Stress

• Addressing identity-related stress and discrimination
• Family rejection and coming out challenges
• Conversion therapy trauma and religious conflicts
• Building affirming support networks and community
• Addressing unique risk factors for LGBTQIA+ individuals

Trauma-Related Self-Harm

• Processing traumatic experiences safely
• Addressing PTSD symptoms and flashbacks
• Working through trauma-related shame and self-blame
• Developing trauma-informed coping strategies
• Healing from complex or childhood trauma

Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use

• Integrated treatment for mental health and addiction
• Managing self-harm during recovery from substance use
• Addressing underlying conditions that contribute to both issues
• Building sober support networks and coping strategies
• Preventing self-medication and substance-related self-harm

Benefits of Treatment for Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts

Immediate Safety and Crisis Management

• Effective strategies for managing suicidal crises without self-harm
• Reduced frequency and intensity of self-destructive urges
• Improved ability to reach out for help during difficult times
• Better recognition of warning signs and early intervention
• Increased confidence in your ability to stay safe

Emotional Regulation and Coping Skills

• Healthier ways to manage overwhelming emotions
• Increased tolerance for emotional distress
• Better problem-solving skills during crisis situations
• Improved ability to self-soothe without self-harm
• Greater emotional awareness and understanding

Improved Mental Health

• Reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions
• Better overall mood stability and emotional well-being
• Increased hope and optimism about the future
• Improved self-esteem and sense of self-worth
• Greater resilience for handling life’s challenges

Stronger Relationships and Support Systems

• Improved communication with family and friends about your struggles
• Better boundaries and relationship skills
• Increased ability to ask for and accept help from others
• Stronger connections with supportive people
• Reduced isolation and increased social engagement

Meaning and Purpose in Life

• Clearer sense of personal values and goals
• Increased engagement in meaningful activities and relationships
• Greater sense of purpose and reason for living
• Improved quality of life and life satisfaction
• Enhanced motivation for continued recovery and growth

There is Hope: Recovery is Possible

If you’re struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts, it may feel like the pain will never end or that things will never get better. These feelings are understandable, but they’re not accurate. The overwhelming pain you’re experiencing right now is temporary, even though it doesn’t feel that way. With proper support and treatment, the vast majority of people who struggle with self-harm and suicidal thoughts go on to live fulfilling, meaningful lives.

Recovery doesn’t mean you’ll never experience difficult emotions again—it means learning healthier ways to cope with life’s inevitable challenges. Many people who have recovered from self-harm and suicidal thoughts describe feeling grateful that they survived their darkest moments and went on to experience joy, love, and purpose they couldn’t imagine during their crisis periods.

Your Life Has Value No matter how worthless or burdensome you may feel right now, your life has inherent value that exists independently of your achievements, productivity, or how others treat you. You deserve support, compassion, and the opportunity to heal and grow.

Help is Available You don’t have to struggle with these feelings alone. Professional help is available, and reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Many people need professional help to overcome self-harm and suicidal thoughts—it’s not something you should expect to handle entirely on your own.

Crisis is Temporary Even though emotional crisis can feel endless, intense suicidal feelings typically last for relatively short periods. Learning to get through these acute crisis periods safely is a crucial skill that can save your life and allow you to experience the better times that lie ahead.

Ready to Take the First Step Toward Healing? Reaching out for help when you’re struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts takes tremendous courage. If you’re considering treatment, that means part of you wants to live and wants things to get better—and that’s incredibly important and valuable.

Whether you’re in immediate crisis, have been struggling with these issues for years, or are supporting someone you care about, our specialized therapists are here to provide the compassionate, expert care you need and deserve.

Contact Therapy Telemed today to schedule your confidential consultation. Taking this step toward help could be the most important decision you ever make—not just for yourself, but for all the people whose lives you will touch in the future.

Remember: If you are in immediate danger, please reach out for emergency help:

• Call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• Text “HELLO” to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)
• Go to your nearest emergency room
• Call 911