Self-Injury Support Group

well, i may not be much of advice or anything but i will say that i'm here for you if you need me. i used to be that way but it wasn't that bad and it was only going on for as long as 2 weeks. but i still SI myself. if you need me i'll be here and am online most of the time. just message me if you need to or something. and just don't be afraid to vent on me or anything. sometimes people that listen are the best help you need and i'm gunna be here to listen anytime you need to if you want to. **HUGS**

Hey pandora4150, I am only a 17 year old kid and i know a lot of people wouldn't listen to my advice but i have been through the same thing. The best way I have stopped myself from going into these "episodes" is by staying around people, even when i am having a horrible day and i just wana cut up my whole leg. I force myself to stay around people or somewhere people can see or hear me so i think twice about doing it and hopefully stopping me.
stay strong - Msadsmile

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it. I may take you up on that offer.

Its ok if your 17. I like your advice. Thanks.

I don't know if any of these will help you distract yourself but I found this long list of things to do on mirror-mirror.org. I hope one will help you.

deep breathing
relaxation techniques
call a friend, your therapist or a crisis line
try not be be alone (visit a friend, go shopping, etc.)
take a hot bath
listen to music
go for a walk
write in a journal
wear an elastic around wrist and snap it when you have the urge to harm yourself
some people find it helpful to draw red lines on themselves with washable markers instead of cutting themselves
hold ice cubes in your hands - the cold causes pain in your hands, but it is not dangerous or harmful (some people find it relieves the urge to harm themselves for that moment)
punching a bed or a pillow (when nothing but a physical outlet for your anger and frustration will work).
scratch draw a picture on a thick piece of wood or use a screw driver and stab at the piece of wood. (can be another physical way to release your emotions without harming yourself.)
avoid temptation (i.e. avoiding the area in CVS where the razor blades are kept, etc.)
try to find your own creative ways as outlets for emotions.
learn to confront others/making your own feelings known instead of keeping them inside
go outside and scream and yell
take up a sport (a form of exercise can help you release tension, etc.)
work with paint, clay, play-do, etc. (the person who suggested this mentioned that they would make a big sculpture and do whatever they wanted to it. They said it was helpful to calm the urge to self-injure, plus it gave them some idea of what might be underlying the pain.
draw a picture of what or who is making you angry
instead of harming yourself, try massaging the area you want to harm with massage oils or creams, reminding yourself that you are special and you deserve to treat yourself and your body with love and respect
go to church or your place of worship
wear a pipe cleaner or something that will fit on the places that you injure. One person did this as a way to remind herself that she could call someone instead of hurting herself and that she had other ways to cope.
break the object that you use to self-injure as a way to show that you have control over it.
write a letter to the person(s) that have hurt you and express how they made you feel. Theses letters do not have to be in perfect form and you do not have to please anyone but yourself. You do not have to give these letters to the people, but it is a great way to release the feelings that you are carrying within. After you write the letters, you can decide then what to do with them. Some people find destroying the letters help (i.e. tear them up, throw them in a lake, etc.)
do some household chores (i.e. cleaning)
do some cooking
try some sewing, crossstitch, etc.
recite a poem, prayer or anything else familiar the comforts you multiple times
write down all your positive points and why you do not deserve to be hurt
write in your journal why you want to hurt yourself and if you have hurt yourself, write down what caused it to happen so in the future you can prevent it from happening - or find out what your triggers were
Play some kind of musical instrument. Even if you don't really know how to play, picking out tunes is a way to concentrate and help get rid of the urge to harm yourself.
yoga
allow yourself to cry. Getting the tears out can make you feel better. It allows the inside to release, as opposed to self abuse. Picture your "ickies" pouring out as you cry.
Take a shower
write down a word best associated with what you are feeling (i.e. horrible, sad, lonely, angry) and continue to write it down, over and over. Sometimes when you do that, the words look silly etc., and it puts humor or a smile in your life.
sing a song on what you are feeling. It's another way to get it outside. Shout if you are mad, etc. Let the words just come to you.
Scribble on paper. Clutch the pen in your fist. It's a way to diffuse it on to paper. (Get a few sheets so they don't tear.)
Take item you are self injurying with and use it against something else. For example, if you are using a razor blade, rip it across a towel. Sometimes seeing what "can" be done to an object can make a person think twice about using it on themselves. Can also give the feeling of "doing it"...the tangible aspect.
Make a list of reasons why you are going to stop cutting. Every time you get the urge, read the list to remind yourself why you shouldn't. Also remember to put on that list that you do not deserve to hurt yourself. You are important and special and you do not deserve to be hurt.

Thank you. I have heard of some ofd those before butr not others. I will try some. Thanks.

*hugs* i know exactly how that is...it's happened to me too. just try thinking about anything but cutting. think of something that makes you feel good or loved and DONT let go of that thing in your mind. focus on it. listen to some music or write about something. anything. write about feelings maybe? or maybe about one time when you were very happy. all that is what i do, and i havent cut in over a month now. *hugs* i have faith in you and believe you can do this :)

what i do and wha ive advised others to do is to squeeze ice with salt on it.. its more painful then just ice..

im here for u hunny

I used to cut hardcore for about 5 years and the last 3 on and off. I haven;t done it for 8 months.
Every time i want to cut i think about how much it would hurt my mum and family if they could watch me doing it. I know my mum would be in pieces. It makes me cry now thinking about how much i've hurt my family through my cutting.
I think the thought of them helps me to get through the urges. After all they have been the only ones who have stuck by me in my life, everyone else has died or left me.
There are heaps of things you can do. Hey email me if you want. I will always reply. I have just joined this site today cos i need support too but i also love to help others. gasolinerainbow@windowslive.com. My name's Amy. Hope you're doing well for today at least.

If you can get threw just one night it will help alot. So be prepared it's going to hurt but it is doable. The first time I did was with a group here on DS. we had a thread on it and that was a nice help. we should probably do that again those are really great posts.:) Secondly, have some way to exercise. Luckily I have a treadmill, so I run on that and I mean alot usaully at least 4 miles. just have to exhausted myself. Thirdly sleep, that helps alot for me. also postpone, I always say I'll do it after I finish this or that and keep postponing. another thing I do that really helps when I'm really up set is that I put my arms down and clench my fists. Thsi slows me down and doesn't let me instantly reach for a knife. It makes me sit back for just a few seconds and think is this really want I want to do. and usually that gives me a chance to stop it before I start. and TYPE, I find is my hands are busy 90% of the problem is solved. So I'll often just vent on the journal enteries here. hugs, I know how tough it is. All you have to take is one day at time. Also talk positively to yourself. I'm terrible about mentally beating yourself up. I had to learn to celbrate each minute I got through with out SI instead of thinking about how far there was to go. Even if you just make it an hour consider it a victory. Getting through one urge is just as importnat as goign for days or weeks. Hugs,I know these cycles are tough to stop really tough but you can do it. being around people helps alot. Muisic also helps me and sometimes watching a movie can be distracting too.