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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Relapsing every few days... please help!

aimeemarie23
aimeemarie23
I started self harming over a year ago, and then stopped around five months ago. However, since around the beginning of February I've started excessively cutting again and I can't go more than a few days without doing it. I'm relapsing all the time and it makes me feel like such a massive failure (I have depression as well). I've found its the only thing that calms me down, most of the time I don't even feel anything because I'm so angry/upset, its just seeing the cuts and the blood that calms me down. Sometimes its the only thing that stops me crying. It's got to the point where I carry razor blades around with me all the time when I'm out in case I get stressed and need to cut, and I've had to do it a few times when I'm at college or out with friends. I don't know how to cope anymore and just end up feeling guilty when I look at my scars. I just don't know what to do anymore, I feel like giving up all the time and cutting is the only thing that keeps me going.
LoveAlice
LoveAlice
That is what stops me from crying too. And I also like looking at them because they calm me down. Have you tried writing, drawing, coloring, running, or anything else to sort of "get out" those bad feelings that make you cut?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have struggled with self harming since i was about 10 and continue to struggle. I know what you mean when you mentioned you went 5 months without doing it and when you did how it made you feel... i went 13 months and caved in. Thats how i cope with issues. Like LoveAlice mentioned writing and those activities is a great way to let the feelings out. I write in my journal, i write poems, and i also draw.
valgal18
valgal18
i'm sorry that you're struggling.....i haven't cut in over a year and i know that you can stop too!!!!! have you ever tried the red marker trick??? if you feel like cutting, use a red marker....it gives the illusion of blood and cuts.....you can also write/journal.....that helps me when i have urges....it helps me to get my feelings out and i feel better when i have my feelings out on paper....exercising also works.....i took a kickboxing class a few summers ago and it was amazing!!! it was great to kind of channel the urges....i kind of put my urges out there in front of me and punched them.....just a thought.....the thing that i find working for me when i have urges is occupying my hands AND mind.....i do word searches and i've gotten really good at them...some people like crossword puzzles and other like soduko....i have a coloring books and i color at times....i play computer games and i look at affirmation cards that help me A LOT.......i hope this helped....if you wanna talk, please feel free to message me
aimeemarie23
aimeemarie23
thank you so much to all of you, i really mean that! i think i'll be purchasing a red marker when i'm next out as that sounds like a good idea, i'm willing to try anything to be honest! writing in a journal doesn't help me personally, but i do occasionally write short stories just for myself which gives me something to focus on for a little bit. i've very tempted to start kickboxing, i was discussing it with a friend today actually! i'll try all of the other things as well, thank you so much for your advice and if you ever need to talk at all i'm here X
valgal18
valgal18
i think that's great!!! and what works for certain people doesn't work for everyone.....i actually write short stories too and that helps....even if it's just for a little bit, it's something great do to just get our mind off of it
deleted_user
deleted_user
#STORYOFMYLIFE IM STUCK AS WELL SO YOUR NOT ALONE.... EVERYONE ON THIS PAGE BE MY FREIND PLESES
deleted_user
deleted_user
my therapist keeps hounding me on emotions and urges.

and emotion lasts typically a minute. and an urge last no more than an hour.

*** so - can you distract yourself for sixty seconds? And then repeat as many times as necessary for that hour? ***

Sounds easy. I know it isn't and I have the bloody thighs to prove it......