Self-Harm Recovery
Self Mutilators Anonymous
Self Mutilators Anonymous is a Twelve Step fellowship that helps people overcome the problem of self-harm and self-mutilation.
Self Mutilators Anonymous Preamble
Self Mutilators Anonymous (SMA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other, that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from physical self-mutilation. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop mutilating oneself physically.
There are no dues or fees for SMA membership. We are self-supporting through our own contributions. SMA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
Our primary purpose is to stop mutilating ourselves and to help others to recover from self-mutilation.
What is Self Injury and Self-Mutilation?
Self Injury
Self injury is intentionally physically harming yourself to cope with painful emotions.
Self-Mutilation
Self-Mutilators Anonymous (SMA) defines physical self-mutilation as deliberately causing injury to your body without the intention of ending your life.
This includes cutting yourself, tearing out body hair, burning yourself, scratching until blood is drawn, reopening wounds, swallowing objects, banging your head against the wall, breaking bones or teeth, tearing or severely biting cuticles or nails, chewing the inside of the mouth, compulsive body-tattooing, excessive cosmetic surgeries, body-piercing, acne mutilation, etc.
Self-Injury Recovery Anonymous Meetings
So far there are only a handful of face-to-face Self-Injury Recovery Anonymous meetings, so it is currently easier for most people to connect with Self Mutilators Anonymous via Skype meetings.
Self-Injury Recovery: Recommended Reading
Secret Scars
Self-injury is one of the fastest growing health problems among teenage girls today. Despite its prevalence, however, self-injury remains a behavior shrouded in mystery and misconceptions. Secret Scars: Uncovering and Understanding the Addiction of Self-Injury demystifies self-injury by explaining it as an addiction.
The author of Secret Scars had a difficult childhood, growing up in a family environment of alcoholism and domestic violence. Describing how she recovered, she says, "I recovered from self-injury through the Twelve Step programs, having come to an understanding of the self-injurious behaviour syndrome as an addiction and being able to identify as an addict."