Blue Whale phenomenon: 8 tips to help a self-harming person
The Blue Whale phenomenon represents what a parent would never want to happen to their child. A game of pain and self-harm, of fears and loneliness. A step-by-step challenge that led to the suicide of about 157 teenagers in Russia and which seems to be appearing also in Italy with the case of the young man from Livorno.
The Blue Whale terrifies us the most when we realize that families affected by this disturbing challenge have not been able or able to help their children, completely isolated in their world of horror.
Self-harm has plagued many adolescents, since forever, from before the Blue Whale, from before the internet; adolescents who seem fascinated and bewitched by it. Imagine that in Europe and in Southeast Asia it is among the main causes of death of adolescents. with new and powerful digital media, this phenomenon has been an unmotivated object of spectacularization, which reaches its peak of madness with the Blue Whale Challenge. And it shocks us even more to know that acts of self-harm in Italy are on the rise, as reported the Telefono Azzurro, which in the first quarter of 2017 had to deal with 59 cases of self-harm, 43 of suicidal ideation and 9 of suicide attempt.
A first alarm bell, a small signal that can help us understand what is happening, is the silence of the person trapped in this universe, the closure to which adolescents force themselves. The Telefono Azzurro itself tells us that it is essential to teach children to be wary of those who want to force them into silence and isolation. Only in this way can we sow a small seed in such fertile and sensitive soil as at that young age. If we have any doubts, or if we feel we are really lying in a difficult period and prone to hurt ourselves, here are 8 important tips to follow, directly from the TA.
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1. Instead of thinking, do it!
Instead of spending hours thinking and ruminating, focus on something simple. Go out, take a walk, do something relaxing that you know will make you feel good. This does not mean putting aside the problems, it means placing the accent, for a moment, on oneself and not on what afflicts us.
2. Don't forget that your perception is altered right now
Do you have the feeling of being alone and lost? Do you have the feeling that you cannot find a way out and that you are completely screwed? In moments of difficulty like the one you are experiencing it is possible that it happens. But they are called "moments" precisely because they are transitory, so they will pass, do not fear that you are feeling now sends you back to an unreal condition, which will go away.
3. Avoid loneliness
Loneliness, indeed, isolation, is a fertile ground for the onset of discomfort and self-defeating thoughts. If you already feel predisposed to this condition, try to stay in company and try, with the best of your strength, to ask for help. You can do it.
4. Build strength by thinking about what you are capable of doing
Try to think locally about everything you went through in your life and remember when you did it, even the simple things. Ask yourself questions like: What helped me? How did I do it? What resources did I use to and then look for all the answers, they are there, inside you
5. What if you help someone?
Think about if a loved one was in a situation like this. What would you recommend him? What would you like to tell him and pass on to him? Thinking from the outside can help.
6. Avoid what gives you negativity
If you are in a place that reminds you of bad times, go away; if you hear a song on the radio that immediately makes you feel sad, change; if you meet someone who puts you in a bad mood, find an excuse and say hello. Do not force yourself to do things that do not make you feel good, in this period pampered only with moments of relaxation.
7. Share your situation with someone you trust
If you are afraid of not being understood, or worse of being judged, trust someone you trust: a parent, a friend, a love, an external support. Sharing will already make you feel better and more protected.
8. Ask for help
Don't be afraid, don't be disheartened. If you are considering self-harm or suicide, or if you know someone living with this condition, try to give them all your support but don't take on all the responsibilities yourself. Asking for help is an act of love, which can be shared. Call or inform your friend of the possibility of contacting Telefono Azzurro at the always active number 1.96.96 or through the chat (active every day from 8:00 to 22:00: 00 and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 to 20:00) You are never alone, even when you are sick.
Source: The President of Telefono Azzurro Ernesto Caffo
