ASK A PSYCHOLOGIST

Every time I pick up a knife (sharp or blunt) I have to cut myself in the gut with it. Not hard enough to draw blood, but just hard enough to feel a tiny bit of pain. I’m not crazy or anything, I think it’s just a habit. Please, help!

You’re right, you’re not crazy. However, what you describe could be something that is serious. This could be behaviour that we call Non Suicidal Self-Injury or NSSI. If you do find yourself engaging in true NSSI, we think it is critical to seek help. Often NSSI does not help an individual feel better for long and they soon find themselves right back to those self-injury behaviours again. After a while, many find that the scars of repeated self-injury get more difficult to hide, make their body unappealing to themselves, and push others away leaving, the self-injurer feeling misunderstood or alone. There are other solutions, and many of our clients get better. Finding the right therapist who is knowledgeable about NSSI is critical. Finding new ways to cope that lead to feeling better long term is well within reach.

Is there something wrong with someone who plays games on a computer all the time, with time out for work and meals only?

Anyone who plays video games knows how addictive games can be. But is this a problem? Every gamer has to evaluate this for themselves. However, let us suggest a few things to take into consideration when doing so. If the time you spend online or on the computer lifts you up and gets you going, excited or really happy – and then as soon as you put down the controller you feel the shift to feeling angry or sad, this could be a problem. Many gamers can put down their games and move on to others things with ease. However, some find that difficult. If you find your thought slowly drifting back to the game during work or school when you’re supposed to be focused on what’s currently in front of you, this could be another indication of a problem.

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