Self-Injury Support Group

Whether you or someone you know or love struggles with self-injury, this is the community to discuss your experience, find support, meet others going through the same, and get advice on how to stop. Working together, we can help find alternative coping skills to reduce the urge to self-harm.

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An addiction?

xBlissx
xBlissx
I had a Cognitive Therapy session today and the issue of my self harm came up (I had self harmed last Thursday).
My therapist asked me if I saw it as an addiction. I don't understand why she would say that to me. In over a year I have only ever used self harm when things have been REALLY bad. I have been able to resist so many times and in total I have probably only done it...well I don't know exactly...probably 6 - 8 times maybe? Why would she think it's an addiction?
I don't know...it just made me feel like it was being trivialized, like, I only do it because I'm addicted to it not because it's the only way I can cope.
I mean, I understand that for some people yes it can become addictive. But then I think they get something more out of it and so feel the need to do it more.
Has anyone else who uses it strictly as a coping mechanism ever been asked this?

x-Bliss-x
deleted_user
deleted_user
It's probably just a standard question they tend to ask to grasp the nature of your problem. I do get asked it myself, but I answer yes, because it is. I don't think the therapist intended to trivialise it. I use it as a coping mechanism probably in a very similar way to how you do, except after using it for so long it just became routine, and like an addiction. For me it always starts as a coping mechanism, and then escelates to addiction. I'm sure she/he didn't mean to make you feel like you do. :o)
xBlissx
xBlissx
I can see what you mean. I do get scared about it becoming an addiction. Mainly because I'm worried that it if it becomes more an addiction that a way of coping...it won't have the same effect and it won't ease the suicidal ideation.
x-Bliss-x
musicmad123
musicmad123
im addicted, butttt ive never been asked
deleted_user
deleted_user
They said I was addeicted. (well I was. I coudlnt' survive without cutting like 6-12 times a day)

They treated it like an addiection, and locked up every knife in the house into a safe. And even the can opener so I couldn't open a can and use the lid or something.

Then they sent me away to a hospital for almost a week.

Things have been hard since then, but things have gotten better. ANd I know i'll go back if I start cutting again. So they've stopped me...for now. I don't know hwo much longer I cna hold on though but i'll try
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm an adrenaline junkie...the only thing is, I do it in a dangerous way. It's so dangerous that if I don't stop as of TONIGHT...RIGHT NOW!! I WILL die. So, I have to find other ways to find outlets to my adrenaline addiction.