Self-harm: When It's Time to See a Specialist

Self-harm is always a signal that the mind is under serious strain. Reaching out for help means taking a step toward yourself — not admitting defeat.

When working through it alone is not enough

Dr. Saулitis is clear on this point: if a person tries to manage on their own but sees no improvement, that is not a failure of willpower — it is an indication that professional help is needed. A mind in that state needs support the same way a broken leg needs a cast: before any rehabilitation can begin, the condition itself must first be stabilised.

It is especially important not to delay when:

• sleep and appetite are disrupted and not recovering;
• intrusive, spiralling thoughts are hard to break free from;
• there is a feeling of losing control over oneself or reality;
• a person is left completely alone after a traumatic event.

What a specialist provides

The doctor emphasises: what is needed is a person you can trust, someone you can show your path to — and who, when necessary, can help restore sleep, relieve chronic exhaustion, and stop the cycle of rumination. This is the foundation without which any further personal work is built on unstable ground.

A diagnosis is not a verdict or a label. It is a starting point — a moment of clarity about what is happening and which direction to move in.

Having someone close is also part of recovery

One point Dr. Saулitis highlights particularly: a person must not be left alone. When something acute and painful happens, the presence of someone close, their genuine involvement, and the feeling of "you have not been abandoned" — these are themselves part of the help. What a person needs is not perfect promises kept, but the sense that someone is genuinely on their side and doing everything they can.

Where to get help

In an acute state — do not wait. Reach out to a psychiatrist or call an emergency mental health helpline. In Russia, call 112 if there is a risk to life. You have the right to help — and help exists.