Barb from “Stranger Things” just revealed that she used to self harm, and we’re so proud of her for opening up about such an important topic

Pretty much everyone who watched Stranger Things totally fell in love with it. So, even though Shannon Purser is no longer a cast member, we’re so happy that she’s using her moment to talk about something important. Purser, who played Barb, revealed that she harmed herself in the past, but is now in recovery.

Self harming is often an unfortunate solution to untreated depression. As you’d imagine, it’s a dangerous way for certain people to cope. Even worse, it strikes more individuals than you think. According to Healthy Place, 1 in 5 females and 1 in 7 males partake in self injury, which means that it’s a topic that affects a large majority of us.

Purser took to Twitter to address her audience on the subject — as she warns, there are few triggers in the tweets ahead.

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Thankfully, Purser has found a bunch of healthier avenues since. false

Purser, who is only 19-years-old, pretty much had her acting debut in Stranger Things. Since it was such a powerful role, she really entered the public eye pretty quickly. With her tweets, she just proves that absolutely anyone can fall victim to the dangerous acts of cutting and self injury. But she also proves that anyone can overcome it.

Statistics show that roughly 50% of those who engage in self harm start around the age of 14, and for many, it continues well into their their 20s.

As Purser mentioned, there are definitely ways to feel better. For some, just reading the stories that others write about overcoming the urge will help. For others, creative outlets might be the perfect solution. No matter what, those who self harm aren’t alone. 

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Purser bringing up her past is just a reminder that those suffering should never give up on themselves, and their attempts to get better. For most, true happiness is often just around the corner — even if it often doesn’t seem that way.

There’s no shame in reaching out for help with you truly need it — your life is worth it.