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.
I began cutting myself when I was 11 (I'm now 18).
I know it's bad for me. But I don't want to stop.
I know people usually reply to these questions with "Go get professional help" - I have done. Since I was 11 I've seen 6 therapists, 9 psychiatrists and been on 4 medications (abilify, seroquel, zoloft & risperdal).
None of that helped and I've continued to be in a mess. I've continued to self harm.
It's become a part of me and I don't see that I will ever stop. My family found out a long time ago and have come to accept that I do it. It's entirely ignored. I cover up, they know why, it's not questioned. They tried helping in the beginning, however, but saw it just stressed me out more.
I got into a new relationship about the end of August. He knew I self harmed from the beginning, saw the severity... but I think he underestimated how it would be to be dealing with me doing it as often as I do and as deep as I do. And I'm really struggling with the fact he cares so much. The guilt I feel for continuing to do it. But as awful as it it, the self harm comes first. I've asked him to just ignore it as my family do... I know he can't do that.
I just... I don't know what to do about things. How do I stop if I don't want to? Is that even possible? Do I continue as I am? How long can I continue to hack at my body? Will I still be doing it at 30? 40? 50?
I hear of people going inpatient for self harm - but at what point is that needed? Because I don't feel that's needed for me as I am now, or that it would even help. But perhaps I need to be forced to stop? Because I don't see myself stopping out of choice. But then at the same time I find the thought of being forced to stop really distressing.
I guess I just wanted some advice or info or just some comment on what I can do about the situation as I'm utterly lost on what to do. I just know things can't can't continue as they are.
Thanks for replies
I know it's bad for me. But I don't want to stop.
I know people usually reply to these questions with "Go get professional help" - I have done. Since I was 11 I've seen 6 therapists, 9 psychiatrists and been on 4 medications (abilify, seroquel, zoloft & risperdal).
None of that helped and I've continued to be in a mess. I've continued to self harm.
It's become a part of me and I don't see that I will ever stop. My family found out a long time ago and have come to accept that I do it. It's entirely ignored. I cover up, they know why, it's not questioned. They tried helping in the beginning, however, but saw it just stressed me out more.
I got into a new relationship about the end of August. He knew I self harmed from the beginning, saw the severity... but I think he underestimated how it would be to be dealing with me doing it as often as I do and as deep as I do. And I'm really struggling with the fact he cares so much. The guilt I feel for continuing to do it. But as awful as it it, the self harm comes first. I've asked him to just ignore it as my family do... I know he can't do that.
I just... I don't know what to do about things. How do I stop if I don't want to? Is that even possible? Do I continue as I am? How long can I continue to hack at my body? Will I still be doing it at 30? 40? 50?
I hear of people going inpatient for self harm - but at what point is that needed? Because I don't feel that's needed for me as I am now, or that it would even help. But perhaps I need to be forced to stop? Because I don't see myself stopping out of choice. But then at the same time I find the thought of being forced to stop really distressing.
I guess I just wanted some advice or info or just some comment on what I can do about the situation as I'm utterly lost on what to do. I just know things can't can't continue as they are.
Thanks for replies
My friends tell me to stop, my mom too,
my dad doesn't really care... And I'm torn in two. Sometimes I desperately want to stop but then if I try I don't wanna stop anymore and think to myself "what's so wrong about it?"
So what I'm trying right now is distract myself as much as I can so I won't get the urge to cut that often. Mostly I make it about a day but it's everytime getting more.
I'd say the most important thing to do is take small steps.
If you want to stop all at once it'll go wrong for sure.