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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Does the urge come back

needeester
needeester
Trigger warning......

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So I am just about 4 year since the last time I cut. I am happy that I have lasted this long. I haven't gone this long since I was 13 and I am not 29 almost 30. For no reason at all the urge comes back. It is as if I miss an old friend. When I look at my scars I miss the relationship we used to have. I know that sounds sick and most of the time I don't feel that way but at times I do. Often I feel like I just replaced cutting with alcohol. I feel so lost at the moment. Just a few minutes ago I saw a knife on the table and i let it rub against my arm. it didn't break the skin but it did leave some dry skin scratches. I wanted so much to push down and let it bleed but didn't.

Does anyone else who thought they were recovered have these moments even 4+ years out?
I know I sound pathetic.
paoflavia
paoflavia
I have the same problem, the other day I cut myself by accident and the ony thing I could think was to get a knife an cut more... and I havent cut in years too
LoveAlice
LoveAlice
Congrats on going four years! That's huge. I also hold knives against my skin because I think it somehow helps if I just almost do it. Idk. For me the urges have never went away yet, but I hope they go away soon for you.
LoveAlice
LoveAlice
Yeah you are totally not pathetic at all.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I haven't cut for over 10 years and The urge comes back repeatedly. I can't help it. I tried boxing without gloves on to feel the hurt without being down right self inflicting and it just made it worse. That was all I could think about.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Congrats on going 4 years.

I have the same problem. I went three years, and then I slipped up last year. I think about it often, but it really only gets to me every few months.
romancandle
romancandle
I know how you feel. I am going on a year and a half with only one slip and it is very stressful to always think about it and have the urges. It was enough for me to come back to this website and start looking at the discussion board for help which I haven't done in years. I drew red lines on my arm tonight instead of cutting which I know is supposed to be a better way but I feel like I am slipping.
MaryinLouisville
MaryinLouisville
"I wish I could say I know how you feel. I haven't cut since 10 this morning so it's only been 8 hours for me. Hearing that you went 4 years gives me some hope! I honor your feelings. Love your day! Thanks for sharing"
IfYouCouldOnlySee
IfYouCouldOnlySee
It was 3 years since I self harmed and it's been a struggle but I believed that I was done with it, but I slipped up the other day, and the worst part is I don't even know why I did it. The urge just came back suddenly....I don't think it ever really goes away completely, you just have to have other coping mechanisms to use. I know how you're feeling, but what's important is that you were still able to resist the urge! that's not pathetic, that's strong! (: