Are you worried about self-harm? There is help but sometimes, an immediate tool is needed and that’s where Calm Harm comes in. Calm Harm is a completely free app that is a tool developed by Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr. Nihara Krause. Though we are Prima Games and this isn’t the next big AAA entry for your Xbox and PlayStation, we do firmly believe in getting the help you need so when we came across this incredible resource, we wanted to speak up.
For those that struggle with self-harm, the act of inflicting pain on oneself for a multitude of reasons, the urge can come in like a wave. It feels powerful like it can swallow you whole and sometimes – sometimes you need help now. Calm Harm doesn’t contradict your feelings, it helps you use them and morph them into something that helps. “Learn to ride the wave,” the app boasts and that’s exactly what it does with the help of the below activities:
- Comfort
- Distract
- Express Yourself
- Release
- Random
- Breathe
Before writing this piece, I wanted to try it out myself to see 1) if it was really free and 2) if it was really constructive. There were no hidden costs and it did provide exactly what’s advertised.
For a little background, I’m a veteran that was medically retired back in 2015. Since then depression, self-loathing, anxiety – pretty much everything you can think of – has just piled up to make me feel, at times, completely powerless.
I personally found the Comfort and Distract activities the most helpful. Users can set the time limit of help they want, for those longer sessions or a shorter one on the go, and choose from a list of activities and tips to utilize during that time period. From challenges like “stick some fake tattoos where you want to hurt yourself, remind yourself to do one comforting thing everytime you see them” to “Record yourself saying as many positive things as you can about something that matters and listen to it as many times as you’d like,” there are lists upon lists of helpful tools that this app offers.
Even better is that users can make all of their progress, their settings, anything they want completely private by setting up a password. The app can also be personalised, making it truly feel like a tool that is tailored to each user. Though it’s important to know that this does not replace treatment, it is a comforting tool to use alongside treatement.
For additional help, there are so many resources out there. Crisis hotlines, networks of therapists that are there for you – you aren’t alone. If you want to try out the Calm Harm app for yourself to help you when you need it, it’s available now on both Apple and Android devices.
