It's been some time since I've announced over being a recovering self-harmer in a past oneshot chapter within this book. 

I just want to say a huge thank you to each and every one of you lovely, amazing and wonderful people who were so kind and supportive. It's so good to see a good and positive reaction towards SH now compared to my younger days. 

I do want to say that in September .. I'll be hitting the five years mark.

But anyway, that's not important. 

I'm here with other important and great news. 

I've noticed over a positive view and supporting side to recovering Self-harmers.  

I will mostly use the phase recovered or recovering since different help lines or sites use both phases. It either seen as "Recovered" or "Recovering. 

It seems that people are becoming more open over SH's thoughts progress and reasoning for gaining such an addiction. Still feels strange to call it as an addiction, it was never seen as an "illness" or "addiction" back in my younger days. 

People are buying charm bracelets now. You add a new charm either every six months or once you hit the year mark. 

You don't need to know an exact date when you stopped or your last cut. Just roughly figure out a month and you can chose how far into the month to chose as your recovered date. Either pick for an example the second weekend of the month or the third Thursday. Whatever works best for you. 

Some people have a cake on the yearly date, celebrating their recovery with those who have supported them or by themselves. Either a specially made cake or just one merely bought from a store. Either is fine, whatever you want must. 

Some have bought a necklace on big celebrations. Like the first year, five years or more. Having one item to celebrate how far they've made it. Some have bought it on the day they've chosen to stop, using it as a reminder to fight back against the urge to do it again.  

It's not commonly known about or done openly. Nothing special has been done but these are things that have been started and I feel like it's a little late for me to join in. I wanted to tell other's about it in case someone else liked the idea. 

I think this is a positive view on recovering. Having an award or something positive to look forward, help fight against the dark thoughts or urge with the mere thought of that award, symbol waiting ahead for them.  

It might not work for everyone but I just wanted to pass it on. 

From what I've learnt, treating yourself is like gaining a sobriety coin/token for other addictions. There isn't really many help groups or recovering groups so Self-harmers don't gain a coin/token for the months they do go without hurting themselves. But this positive prize to yourself should work in the same sense apparently. 

I'm not shy over my SH days. 

I don't hide my scars, some have faded but some stand out on hot or cold days. 

I'm not ashamed, I'm proud over those scars that proved I faced some pretty fucked up days and faced them. Survived and carried on. 

I know I must sound selfish but I wish such a positive outcome was given out during my younger self. I always struggled around the six or eight month stage. Having some treat or prize waiting for me, a beloved trophy I wanted instead of more harsh looks or words. It might have made me hitting my six or seven year mark instead of five soon. 

I do hope this positive outlook on recovering can help some Self-harmers out there. 

I know not many people talk about this topic. 

Some still hide away and that's perfectly fine. 

Just know I am here if anyone EVER, and I mean ever, needs to talk.

I'll listen, I'll be that encouragement you may need and I'll just be here, proud of you no matter what. 

Just know, you're not worthless, not broken, not damaged and are beautifully perfect in my eyes.