For part two in my Self Injury Awareness Day video series, I sat down for a one-on-one interview with singer/songwriter Chris Pureka, the artist who provided the song “Cruel and Clumsy” for my awareness project. In the interview, we talk about using writing as a healthy coping mechanism and self-injury alternative, as well as what it’s like to write songs that deal with such deep and painful subjects, like self-harm, depression and suicide.

On March 1, which is widely known as "Self Injury Awareness Day", I put together a video collaboration with people across the globe to inspire awareness, hope, love, and recovery for mental illness and self-injury.

This week, I'm focusing on healthy alternatives to self-injury as a followup to my previous article about using natural supplements to calm anxiety and self-injury urges. Contrary to popular opinion, I do not believe that cathartic techniques suggested by many treatment centers, books and websites are beneficial to coping with self-injury urges. These techniques can include: snapping a rubber band against the wrist coloring on your arms with a red pen holding an ice cube to your skin hitting, punching or breaking items.

In my last video blog post, I explained how and why anxiety can lead to self-injury; how many people who suffer from anxiety often engage in self-harming behaviors in order to cope with their anxiety symptoms. In this video, I focus on natural vitamins and supplements you can use to combat your anxiety, and therefore lessen your urge to self-injure when triggered by anxiety and panic.

It is common for people who have anxiety to engage in self-injury as a coping mechanism, to help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and induce feelings of numbness, or even euphoria. In this video blog, I explain why self-injury seems to calm anxiety in some people -- and why, ultimately; it is an unhealthy coping mechanism that should be replaced by healthy ones.

In this video blog, I discuss how to talk to your family and friends who may be in denial about your mental illness - or simply do not believe you at all. I have experienced this personally, and what I have learned is -- some people you can reason with, and others you can't. Here are some tips on how to deal with family in denial, and when to move on from those who won't understand, no matter what you do.

Recently, I was asked to address the topic of self-injury and sexual intimacy. More specifically -- being ashamed of your body due to self injury cuts, burns or scars and having to shy away from intimate relationships, or face possible rejection by a sexual partner should they see them. In this blog, I will address ways to deal with this type of situation.

In this video, I explain some signs and symptoms that are commonly seen among people who self-injure. If you're a family member, friend or loved-one of someone you believe may be deliberately self-harming, these are some things to look out for that may help you bring up the issue with them.

One of the most-requested topics among readers of this blog is self-injury and its affect on romantic relationships. In this blog, I will give you some quick tips on how to tell your boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other that you self-injure.

This week's topic coincides with last week's topic - safe self-injury alternatives. In this vlog, I talk about managing self-injury urges in a healthy way, by using impulse control logs specially designed by S.A.F.E. ALTERNATIVES®, the world-renowned self-injury treatment program.