As the hot water passes over me, my legs quiver and the needles still stab in my chest as I gather my breath. As my heart rate slows and my head swims with negative thoughts. “I wish I could be proud of myself”

“Why am I never good enough?”

“Why do I hate myself?” 

“It’s no wonder I’m borderline. I’ve brought this on myself” 

Another voice echoes in my head 

“Stop it. Be kind to yourself” 

My bitter insides twist in response and say 

“You’ve let this happen” 

I try and remember to be mindful

I try to focus on the water running down my face, on the pulse in my ears

But still I can’t drown out the voices that say “not good enough. You’re to blame. Pathetic. Weak. Attention seeking. Lazy. Fat. Unmotivated. Lost. Lonely. Loser. DISGUSTING. WORTHLESS!” The voices press down on me. Pushing me to my knees. My invisible enemy ripping me inside out. 

Why do I hate myself?! 
But…
I didn’t buckle did I? 
I know what I wanted to do. I know the pain I wanted to feel. I know I wanted to feel punished. 
So… I ran. I jumped, I pressed, I crunched, I pushed myself harder and I forced myself through the pain. 
Till my heart drowned out the inside screaming and all I could think of was breathing. 
Relief. For a moment. 
And in the shower the voices may be back and they may be pushing in… but they didn’t win did they? 
I didn’t try to tear them out my skin.
I push against the shower wall and whisper to myself: “I am enough. One battle at a time.” 
I turn off the water, take a deep breath, and get ready to face the world again.
Cos like it or not. I can’t escape the skin I’m in.