To Write Love on Her Arms

To Write Love on Her Arms

November 12, 2009 by Whisper Swansong

“To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.”

This is a subject very close to my heart. Without going into too many personal details, I myself have battled with severe depression and self-injury since the age of 13. I am now in my 30’s. My Doctors only started taking me seriously in the last 5 years.

The unbearable lonliness and stigma attached to depression and mental health doesnt help the matter. In particular the stigma attached to those who self harm. It has been ridiculed by others who do not understand and see it as a cry for attention when that isnt always the case. There are very often deeper issues. Ones that are sometimes too painful to even talk about.

My entire body is a battlefield of scars from my struggle to survive.. it is not something I am proud of.. but I look at them and I know that I have survived this long thanks to the people who have reached out and helped me in both SL and RL. Those who have helped me fight. Who have shown me kindness and love. Who have shown me support and have been there when things have been bad.. very bad. Who have given me the strength to find the courage to fight.

I have not self harmed in 3 years… it is still a battle.. but it is one I am winning.

Tomorrow, November 13th, is To Write Love on Her Arms Day. It is a day where anyone can write the word LOVE on their arms to show their support for this worthy cause. To tell people why when they ask.. to encourage everyone to reach out in love and understanding.. to benefit a non profit organization helping people who suffer depression and addiction.

To this end and to show my support, I have created a set of tattoos that I am giving out to the Fab Free group in world. If you were not part of the group when I sent them out, then please do join up and check the notices and you will find them. Or you can visit the FabFree Headquarters and pick them up. They are on the right side of the store, on the top line of vendors on the door wall (if that makes sense).

“The vision is the possibility that your best days are ahead.
The vision is the possibility that we’re more loved than we’ll ever know.
The vision is hope, and hope is real.
You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story…”

These words are taken from the TWLOHA website and is part of their vision.. they offer so much and ring so true.

Remember… who ever you are.. you are loved.