There are many Groups, Charities, Phone Lines and Organisations that can help with feelings of depression, anger, anxiety and self injury; visit the Links page for some further web sites, and the Publications page for further information.

But one of the first places you can go for help is your GP Doctor.

Your Doctor may not be a psychologist, or a psychiatrist, bet they do have the power and knowledge to refer you directly to a trained Doctor to help you with your self injury and the associated feelings

It can feel like a big step, talking to your Doctor. It does take a certain amount of courage to discuss your feelings with anyone. The good news is that you do not have to go into detail about your mental or physical condition with your Doctor.

If you have a good relationship with your Doctor, then you may feel comfortable coming straight out with it and explaining that you suffer from Self Injurious Behaviour, but if you don't feel confident enough to discuss your SI, then you don't have to.

Planning

Before you visit your Doctor, it's a good idea to have a plan on what it is you wish to achieve and get out of the visit.

Consider:

and finally, would you accept being told to 'cheer up' and 'come back in a month'?

(We suggest that you should not accept this last event, by calmly staying in the room and talking further, you can take control of the situation and the conversation, and state what it is you require.)

Once you have an idea of what you wish to get from your Doctor, it is time to make an appointment, or simply drop in and sit in the waiting room. You do not have to discuss why you are seeing the Doctor with any Reception Staff or Nurse.

Visiting your Doctor

When you see the Doctor, remember that they are professionals, performing their job to the best of their abilities, but that they are still human beings, they are not in control of you, nor are they your 'last hope to get help'. Be polite, and yet be honest and clear as to your reasons for coming. Perhaps you could tell them how nervous you feel, and how difficult it is for you to be here at all today.

You may wish to explain that you use Self Injury as a Coping Mechanism to help you deal with life, and to help you get through your turbulent emotions.

However, you may not wish to discuss Self Injury at all, you could choose to explain that you are feeling:

The Three Questions

Your Doctor will then need to ask you three set questions, that all Doctors in the UK have to ask. These questions may be:

It is clear to see that the second two questions refer to Self Injury specifically.

How should we respond to such questions? What do our answers mean?

It is all right to admit that you have, from time to time, experienced such despair or depression that you've thought about ending your life. However, if you say that you are suicidal, your Doctor may have to hospitalise you for observation immediately.

Assuming you don't want this to happen, you should explain to your Doctor that you use Self Injury as a coping Mechanism, which lets you cope with your feelings.

As a Self Injurer, you have to be honest about your history of self harm, and you should tell your Doctor that, yes, you have self injured in the past, and yes, you deem it likely that you will self injure again in the future, but it would be sensible to go on to explain that you do not feel a danger to yourself, that you use Self Injury as a tool, as a form of expression that lets you deal with the thoughts and feelings that overwhelm you.

Your Doctor is not a Self Injury expert; it is your responsibility to express yourself clearly with out shame.

Your Doctor may ask to see your Scars.

You could choose to show your scars, or you could ask "Why is that necessary please?"

It is never necessary to show your scars to receive help. Anyone who insists that they need to see your scars is doing so out of their own ignorance and lack of experience, it is wholly unnecessary to submit to Body Checks or to have your Privacy invaded to receive treatments.

Once you have expressed you wish for help, and your Doctor has gone through the three questions, you may be referred to a Specialist. The specialist will be a professional and trained Psychiatrist (a Medical Doctor who works in the Psychology field) or a Psychologist (A Doctor of Psychology is not a Medical Doctor and can not prescribe drugs).

Next Steps

You may be offered Crisis Counselling, which is a short course of counselling sessions that might start as soon as you leave the Doctor's surgery.

You may be given an appointment at the Hospital, to see a Psychiatrist, which may take days or weeks to come.

When you see the Specialist, you will have the opportunity to fully explain and express yourself. Rather than go into detail with your GP Doctor, it is best to wait for the Specialist, and to be totally open, honest and frank with them.

You never lose control of your life, you will never be forced to do anything or take any drug against your will. You can walk away at any time.

But it will be beneficial to take advantage of all the help available and offered to you, this is your time to get well, and improve the quality of your life.

• Read 'How to talk to your Doctor' from the BBC.

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