To Write Love on Her Arms

[redfaerythinker]

Today is To Write Love on Her Arms Day.

To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

*****To Write Love On Her Arms Day is a day where anyone can write the words love on their arms, to support those who are fighting against depression and those who are trying to recovering. On this day, just write love on your arms, and show it off, other people will ask why you have love written on your arms, and you tell them you are supporting to write love on her arms day, and how its benefiting a non profit organization helping stop depression, and make love the movement ♥

So please if you can, write love on your arms today to show your support for those who are suffering. Give them some hope and show that you care.

Thanks

 

[SapphireLover]

While this is meant to be well meaning, what about those who have self harmed. Would they want to write on their arms and draw attention to scars? I work on mental health and can tell you a lot of people who would not be prepared to show their arms in public as they are ashamed of what they have done.

It doesn''t seem that well thought out.

(Sorry to put a big downer on it!)

 

[Mara]

Two weeks ago at Ikea we saw a gal who had a tshirt that said To Write Love on Her Arms but that is all it said with all this swirling design/decor around it, and the gal had a ton of healed straight scars on her legs and a few on her arms, she had on a tshirt and shorts. We assumed that she was a self-cutter based on the tshirt and the numerous scars, but the shirt gave no indication that this was some type of organization meant to help people, in fact we could only think it was some odd proponent of the cutting. It was really baffling at the time. Glad I at least know what the tshirt meant now but they definitely need more clearly defined designs!

 

[princesss]

I''m confused. Is this somehow raising money? Or is it just a way to raise awareness?

 

[dragonfly411]

princess- I think the love part is a way to raise awareness


I like the idea of shirts, but perhaps with a website? towriteloveonherarms.com? Is there such a thing?

 

[redfaerythinker]

Date: 11/13/2009 10:17:31 AM
Author: SapphireLover
While this is meant to be well meaning, what about those who have self harmed. Would they want to write on their arms and draw attention to scars? I work on mental health and can tell you a lot of people who would not be prepared to show their arms in public as they are ashamed of what they have done.


It doesn't seem that well thought out.


(Sorry to put a big downer on it!)

Many of the people that write love on their arms today are former cutters. And their testimony is some of the most powerful of all. It shows people who are going through depression that there are others who have been there, and that they have made it through. And no... not every former cutter would show their scars... but every one that does is a hero in my book. Also... this is not purely in support of those who are self harmers. This is also for people like me, who suffer from depression. I spend much of my life feeling like i'm in a black hole... and today, seeing how many people care about people like me, it's just really special. It brings me hope.

Here's the website. linky

 

[Lady_Disdain]

May I get emotional here for a moment? I really teared up reading this.

I have had depression on and off for most of my life. I have gone through periods of self harming. I have had suicidal thoughts. I thought I had left all of this behind (well, except depression - still working on that).

Until last weekend, when I found out I couldn''t trust the one person I had confided way too much on. And that I couldn''t trust him on the issue I feel most vulnerable about.

So I wrote love on my wrists (since my arms aren''t that fit to be seen). I will proudly explain why to everyone who asks.

 

[kas baby]

I have always seen twloha as an outreach/raise awareness sort of thing. By writing 'love' on your arms (where most people cut), it's a visual reminder that there is hope and cutting isn't a good coping mechanism. One of my aunts used to cut so I always make sure I write love on my arms when those days roll around, because if I can help even one person think that other people care and there is hope, even if I don't know they've been inspired, then I know I've done some good.

Don't dwell in the past. We cannot change it, but we can learn and grow from our experiences. Each new moment is an opportunity, so create your life, don't let life happen to you. You are the only one who is accountable for your emotions, so find the Joy within.

ETA: Lady Disdain, hugs to you! I know everyone has within them the power to come out of whatever darkness they may find themselves in. All it takes is even a small flicker of light to dispel some of that darkness. By overcoming your cutting, perhaps you will be a beacon of light for others, so that they too may overcome this.

 

[Haven]

Date: 11/13/2009 10:17:31 AM
Author: SapphireLover
While this is meant to be well meaning, what about those who have self harmed. Would they want to write on their arms and draw attention to scars? I work on mental health and can tell you a lot of people who would not be prepared to show their arms in public as they are ashamed of what they have done.

It doesn't seem that well thought out.

(Sorry to put a big downer on it!)

This may be so for some of your patients, but I imagine that seeing other people who may or may not have self harmed in the past write "love" on their arms provides some sort of support and comfort to anyone who has been there.

AND, I imagine that seeing people who *have* self harmed proudly display "love" on their arms along with their scars may provide great comfort to those who are ashamed of what they have done.

Certainly getting past that shame is a powerful healing tool, I would imagine.

I think it's a lovely idea.

ETA: Spending just a few minutes on the website is a strong testimony to the power of this day. I wouldn't be so quick to write it off.

 

[monarch64]

I actually saw this posted as a status update on someone''s FB page earlier. Thanks for posting, RFT, it''s a nice message. I imagine it''s the sort of thing appreciated by anyone who has struggled with any of the issues mentioned, simple as that.

 

[SapphireLover]

OK then, a bit of personal disclosure coming up. As well as being a mental health nurse, I have had depression in the past and have self harmed and have scars on my arms. Although I am not ashamed of it, I just wouldn''t want people looking at my arms.

Maybe its a cultural thing. I am in the UK, not the USA.

 

[dragonfly411]

sapphire - I think it is highly personal whether you would be comfortable, so I don''t think it is cultural. And ((hugs)) to you

I might have to get one of the shirts at some point. I think this is a good movement.

 

[lilyfoot]

For those self conscious about scars, there could be a long sleeved shirt with "Love" written down one/both arms. That way, they could still show their support for the cause and feel comfortable at the same time.

I''ve yet to see anyone with love written on their arm today (but I am stuck in the office for a couple more hours ..)

 

[that_someone_special]

It''s hard to understand cutters unless you are/ were a cutter. But I feel that once a cutter, always a cutter. Because of this, I think that TWLOHA day is nice, but again, writing on your arms? One of the ways that cutters are supposed to "stop" (or start breaking the habit) are to use red sharpie markers, so that they get the look of what they used to have. IMO, writing on yourself might hit a little close to home, and when you are still vulnerable to self-harm- it might not be wise.

I DO like the idea of the long sleeved shirts!

*sigh* We should really be careful with this thread though, it could easily trigger someone....................

 

[lyra]

TWLOHA is a well known community, especially in the most vulnerable group, teens and young adults. Both of my daughters are supporting this awareness and so am I. This is a way to take the stigma away, not worsen it. It empowers women especially. It''s not just about those who have self-harmed in the past, it''s also for those who cope with depression, friends, relatives, whomever. Thanks for reminding us.

 

[princesss]

Date: 11/13/2009 2:47:10 PM
Author: lyra
TWLOHA is a well known community, especially in the most vulnerable group, teens and young adults. Both of my daughters are supporting this awareness and so am I. This is a way to take the stigma away, not worsen it. It empowers women especially. It''s not just about those who have self-harmed in the past, it''s also for those who cope with depression, friends, relatives, whomever. Thanks for reminding us.

I think it''s really great that there''s a community out there that is getting through to teens about these issues. They''re hidden so often, and having friends that have suffered through (and are still suffering through) several of these problems, it''s nice to know that there''s a community out there spreading a loving message. I had no idea it even existed.

 

[doodle]

I''m doing this today, too. One of my very best friends committed suicide a few years ago, so it''s a cause that is dear to me. Thanks for sharing it with PS!