CW: self harm . . . . The medical definition of self harm involves only those acts that cause physical harm to one's self. But I believe there's more to it than that. . What if you broadened that definition to include acts that harm you on a psychological level? How would that change the way you view your daily habits? . In particular, I want to look at reading the comments section on news articles. For marginalized folks, seeing any article about us, regardless of the topic, is an exercise in anxiety. As we read, we scroll closer and closer to that dreaded comment section, and we steel ourselves for the vitriol we're about to read. . The digital version of a straight pride parade scrolls across our screens. Comment after comment pops up from middle-aged men wearing sunglasses and a ball cap while sitting in their pickup truck, telling you exactly what they think of you and the millions of people like you. . In all likelihood, you've never met these people and you never will. Yet, by reading the comments, you allow their hatred to access your mind. You know what's coming in that comment section, and you read it anyway. . What if you started looking at reading the comments as a form of self harm? Would that change the way you behave online? . It's just a thought. . . . . . #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #transgender #queer #queergal #lgbt #trans #transwoman#transcommunity #mtf #transwomen #transrights #girlslikeus #transbeauty #goodmorning #morningthoughts https://www.instagram.com/p/B3w2gHng29P/?igshid=ek3h6rbkoyi8