I recently tried out for a team and while I did so I was people watching. I often find myself staring at people to try and figure them out so that I can better relate to them. However, while I was people watching I saw a girl with lines on her arm. If you've ever self-harmed then you know what lines I'm talking about. Healing cuts. My heart instantly broke for her. I didn't want to say anything in front of anyone else. That would have probably been the worst thing I could have done. I did, however, get her number from a group text conversation we had for the team and texted her the next day. She was actually thrilled I said something.

As someone who spent years hiding my self-harm from my family and friends, I knew that it wouldn't be easy for me to bring this up. In the text that I sent her I let her know that she wasn't alone and that I had gone through the same thing so she could always talk to me. I wanted to make sure that while she was going through the stress of her senior year and then starting her first year of college that she wouldn't resort to old habits and hurt herself again. I wanted to help in any way that I possibly could for her.

At no point should I have ever told her what to do and how to stop self-harming, that wouldn't have been helpful in the slightest. I just needed to make sure that she can talk to people who understand what she's struggling with.

If you ever see someone with those heartbreaking lines, it's up to you to decide if you want to say something to them. However, you don't do it in front of other people, and you surely don't try to make it seem like you're their saving grace. You just tell them that you understand things can be hard and that if they ever want to talk that you're available. Also, you certainly don't judge them for their scars.