
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.

Smash
Most of the people on here cut. I do that too, but most of the time I scratch. Like, I will end up with huge patches of skin gone. My arm has scars all the way up. It is really gross, but I get the urges SO bad and I can't seem to hold back from it.
I know that it is not the most common SI, but does anyone else scratch??
I know that it is not the most common SI, but does anyone else scratch??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
i cut for months, then i stopped for months, and i didnt wanna give into the urges but i found myself just scratching at my arms.
i didnt know if anybody else really did this that much or if it was just very uncommon
It's not good for you. I know you know that.
It's best to try and stop. It's not easy, but worth it. We're all here to support you.
i mainly do it when stressed out and stuff. dont feel like your alone cause your not!
*Hugs*
I'm just starting to understand that scratching is a form of self injury, and that it is not a symptom of a physical ailment, but something I need to look at internally.
Any tips or tricks that you use to get your mind off scratching, picking, popping? My body is getting worst looking every day...
Make sure to make concious effort to stop. If you see yourself doing it, don't just say, "Ohp, there I go again." Ask yourself "What am I feeling right now?" DON'T ask "Why" 'cause we'll never figure out why we do such a thing probably. But "What" is easier to handle. Evaluate your reply, if it's anger, perhaps telling a person why you're upset with him/her, work, whatever. If the answer is sadness, do something that makes you happy. If it's lonely, call a friend.
Write out emotions you find as triggers. Write at least three action plans to do that are positive and easy. Keep this list with you always.
Maybe get some fake tattoos so it's easier to notice when you start doing so.
If you talking about popping zits, I have the same issue lol embarrassing. I also pop any ingrown hairs on my legs. When I'm doing it, I have to pull my concious thought to the full frontal part of my brain and say, "LOOK at what you are doing. KNOW this is bad. DO something else."
I don't like scratching. I mean, I do, I do it when I'm extremly anxious, usually in public settings, right on my wrists. Last Wednesday I was able to catch myself and tried to just hold my hands together. Tight. I went and rubbed my wrist anyway, but thought, "No, no, no no no, think of something, anything." Mind you, during this walk I was thinking people were watching me/following me/etc paranoia crap. I made myself count my steps as well as not hit any cracks in the sidewalk. It quieted the thoughts, though they did not disappear, but having that distraction put them into a managable area of my mind and I made it to a less busy part of town.
The frustrating thing about that day was it was clear that I'm the only one that can help me. My sister was not there. I did the typical shopping trick, and that didn't even work (but I did score a sweet Beatles shirt). I even went down to where I do drug counceling and let them know how bad I was feeling but I was only there for a test, so they didn't bother to inquire if I needed anything. When I got home, I went over how WELL I did that day. I cashed my check, I budgeted, I took care of old bills and fines. OHHH and I did REALLY well considering my phone was shut off that day from backpayments. So I was EXTRA panicky LOL So when I made it home I realized that I pretty much kicked ass, and I *finally* relaxed a bit.
Fizzuck I'm rambling.
Hope that helps, I'll try to think of more. Scratching is definitely different from cutting so it needs it's own prevention plan.
Good luck!