loveleaRNing

I don't even know how to articulate my feelings about self-mutilating. I began cutting, carving and burning and piercing myself when I was around 11. I still have scarring to remind me of how much harm did to myself. I asked for help at the guidance office and nothing came of it - essentially no one took me seriously when I tried to explain how much I just couldn't deal with my life circumstances. I was popular, got great grades,but I had no emotional support at home. My father left us and my mother had a nervous break, we stole food from the grocery store to eat. I was raising my little sister and eventually turned to street drugs to cope. I had a teacher in 7th grade who saw markings around my elbow where I had carved an inverted cross and took me out of the class and began crying - she was the first adult who I felt cared about me. I still struggle and I grew older I put myself in increasingly risky situations. I hope you take these children seriously, they need someone to help them.

I haven't thought about that in over 20+ years - gives me chills that teens still want to prove they can do it.

I was in middle school and did participate in the choking game - we used to do it outside the cafeteria during break in 6-7th grade. I just remember someone basically choking me until I woke up saying "did I go out!?" It lead to much greater experiments with drugs as a teen. It is very dangerous. I have seen seizures - it was mostly kids trying to find a way to Change the way they feel.

I am a new Nurse Manager and have scheduled my first staff meeting this week. I have never lead a staff meeting before and would appreciate and input about how to lead an effective meeting. We are planning to change the staffing schedule and I need to discuss many issues the unit is currently having. The culture in the dialysis unit is negative and the staff have been without leadership for a long time. I don't want to appear nervous or show and weakness, this group will eat me alive!