Ashamed Of My Own Skin: Lily

“When I confided in a male friend about my self-injury, my parents immediately found out thanks to heavily monitored spyware on my computer…But my parents saw my issues as rebellion against their authority that should be broken.”

Self: Sarah

“I am a member of the family / I am a member of the housework crew / I am my parent’s possession/ I am their trophy
I am a representative for Christ / I am a future mother in a future family preparing to serve a future husband.”

Cookie Cutters and The Power of Secrecy: Esperanza

“That is the problem with eating disorders, and self injury in the homeschool world. All of our families are supposed to be picture perfect. Cookie cutter families who never have any problems. So many families I knew growing up acted as if this life were a competition, to see who’s family they could beat in the godliness Olympics. “

The Bruises Becoming My Silent Screams: Timothy

“I couldn’t bring myself to accept myself as my own self. I’d simply punish myself, my body. I would think, I was predestined for hell. That’s what they probably were thinking anyways. I was a vessel for wrath; I was always a vessel for wrath; I might as well prepare myself for eternal punishment in the here and now.”

All My Fault, Not Good Enough: Quick Silver Queen

“I’m naturally an introvert, and all the frustration and anger and blame and depression turned inward. I just was not good enough. I wasn’t pretty enough, I wasn’t thin enough, nobody would want to marry me. Instead of diffusing my negative energy outward, I also turned that inward.”

I Hate That There Is A Name For This: Heather Doney

“There is a name for this problem. It’s called trichotillomania. I still can’t stand that word. Just writing it down I feel intense loathing for it. It makes me want to puke or punch a wall. I hate that there is a name for this. I hate that it exists. I hate that I still have it and I hope that sometime, somehow, it will go away.”

A Call for Contributions to HA’s Upcoming Self-Injury Awareness Series

“I would like to do a self-injury awareness series at HA. I know this can be a very difficult subject to talk about, but I am hoping that, in talking about it, we can shed light on this issue and maybe bring hope and healing for other homeschoolers.”