Description

By Jo Rainbow

Published: 2026
Pages: 103
Key Themes: Mental Health, Mental Illness, Awareness

Description

Hello, my name is Jo Rainbow.  I have lifelong mental health difficulties.  I’ve never let that hold me back.  I’ve been a self-harmer for over 40 years.  Now, I often go months without self-harming.

 

In my first book, “Don’t cut my lifeline”, I wrote about living with self-harm.  In this new book, I hope to show it’s ok to have mental health difficulties.  It’s even better when we can live happily and productively, despite mental health issues.

Self-injury has been my secret friend for about 40 years, at a great cost, both physically and emotionally.

Today, after a lot of tears, therapy and using the Decider Skills, I’m living.

Each new day, I give thanks. I discover something new, and learn a new skill.

 

If you are self-harming or thinking of self-harm, try to limit the damage you’re inflicting. Also try to reduce the occasions you self-harm.

The following may help.

1. Remember to respect yourself. You are a unique human being. You are special and loved by me.
2. Use only new, clean harming tools.
3. First aid. Remember to clean, dress wounds. If in any doubt, seek medical advice.
4. Treat yourself kindly. If a friend had hurt themselves, no doubt you would help them.

 

It may be impossible to stop self-harming at the moment. Keep trying to stop. One day this will be a choice, then an unhealthy choice. Finally a choice you do not wish to take.

It is possible to change ourselves, but not always the situation.

 

* For those who kindly bought my first book, thank you!

 

One important thing to note:  I spoke of “hearing voices”.  My new psychiatrist assures me, I do not “hear voices”.  The “voices” were intense, repeated strong thoughts.

I apologise unreservedly for any distress I may have caused, unintentionally.