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.
hello everyone i'm clara and im 16 years old. i struggle with self harm. i feel like i deserve it due to everything i've done in the past and because of people hurting me. i can't stop. however i've been clean for a month and a half. right now, i feel like i need it. my anxiety is so high (i have ptsd) i just need something to cope and cutting is a way to do that. but i made a promise to myself, never again. i like the way it feels and i like how i know i'm hurting myself and punishing myself. ughhh.
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Hi All.... It's great to see all of the new people joining the site... I'm loving it!!...smileI'm not sure if people are aware that if you don't have Bipolar Disorder but have a loved one who has the disorder we do have a board for people to go to in order to share their experiences and seek friendship, support or adviseIt's the Friends and Family of Bipolar Board.... I hope you'll take a...
Hi, I'm Kat a 35 yr Veteran of Cutting.... There are other far more helpful coping skills to be learned rather than cutting. The thing with cutting or any other form of self-injury is that if you've stayed away from it for a while, you have a good chance at not falling back into it by being smart.
Often, if people delay self-injuring behaviors, the feelings will pass. Pick a healthy activity that you like that makes you feel better. This could be exercise, calling a friend, going for a walk, listening to music or a hobby like painting or writing. When you feel the urge to self-injure, immediately start one of the healthy alternatives instead.
Create a coping skills box. In a box, put your list of coping options, a favorite movie, a few good books, an exercise DVD, soothing music, drawing supplies and your journal. Whenever you’re experiencing the urge to self-injure (or a negative emotion), get the box out and choose a healthy option.
Avoid anything that promotes self-injury. This might mean avoiding Internet sites or even friends who glorify intentionally injuring yourself.
It is very important to learn as much as you can about what makes you want to harm yourself, what are your triggers. Seeing a Counselor or Therapist is also an important part of stopping the Cutting and helping yourself learn healthy coping skills. Once you get all the pieces to the puzzle and have all the information you need if you choose to see a Therapist they can help you build your arsenal of healthy Coping Skills to deal with the specific things that have that negative emotional effect on you and leads you to self injury. I really hope that you can find the help you need with this.
I've also got a list here of 99 Coping Skills to distract you and keep you from cutting:
http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/pages/tip-99-coping-skills.aspx
Take care,
Kat