Thinking about explaining that you self-harm to someone else might make you feel scared, ashamed, or frustrated. However, hurting yourself is a sign that things are difficult for you, and that you need to find better ways to cope . Even if you only self-harm occasionally, you may be struggling with your emotions or with communicating with others. For this reason, talking to someone close to you can be helpful. Identify someone you trust and tell them. If you're a teenager and decide to tell a close friend, they may need to talk to an adult. They talk to an adult because they care about you, not because they aren't a good friend. It might seem hard to understand at the time, but it's important for you to get the help you need, and while a friend can understand, they can't help you alone.