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.

3,568 Members

20,524 Posts

0 Online

MaryinLouisville 11/21/2014

Was anyone taught that sex is bad, that your body was nasty, dirty? How about anyone raised Catholic? Those messages have caused painful in my life. I believe that my SI has something to do with all this. Does anyone ever feel that he/she was sexually abused but can't remember it. I can't be certain but it's a feeling I have. Then I tell myself it doesn't matter anymore, that it's over, I have to take responsibility for my behaviors as an adult.
I haven't SI today yet. It's hard to believe that I haven't. I wanted to say that because even small successes make me feel good! Any comments?

joneszy93 11/21/2014

I was not raised catholic, but I was sexually abused and taught that sex was a bad thing and that only people that were married do it. I also know all about the exact feeling of disgust and dirty/nastiness that you're talking about. I'm so sorry that you were abused, and it's not something you can just forget and pretend it doesn't matter. Because it does matter, YOU matter. There's actually a sexual abuse support group on here as well, here's the link to it.

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Sexual-Abuse/support-group

And big kudos to you for not SI-ing today! It's all about baby steps and celebrating those litttle victories :)

PaganSpirit 11/21/2014

I am sorry to hear you went through such traumatic events. I was raised catholic but I broke away from it at an early age thankfully. Congrats on not SI today! That is something to be happy about. joneszy93 said it best, Its all about baby steps and celebrating those small victories.

MaryinLouisville 11/21/2014

Thank you Joneszy93 and PaganSpirit for your words of encouragement. I continue to not feel so alone in this process. I have a strong urge to SI tonight. I don't think I'm too good at this. I don't know what my choice will be. To abstain from SI, Eating, and chewing leaves me feeling a big void. I made some homemade soup and haven't eaten yet so I will do that now.

joneszy93 11/21/2014

You are good at this, don't listen to the negative & SI voice. Something that a good friend of mine suggested when I told her that I had just relapsed a few days before. She told me to make a list of things that would help me. It helps keep your mind busy and gives you a list things to try.

- Run your hands under some hot water (not scalding)

- Dunk your head in a sink full of cold water.

- Write down whatever words come to your mind when you get the urge to SI

- Rip up a stack of paper

- Scream into a pillow

- Draw a red line on the area that you SI

- Take a shower

Remember, baby steps. It's not a race, it's a process. {Hugs}

LoveAlice 11/23/2014

I am so sorry that you were raised Catholic. I was just raised in dysfunction. I truly believe that the Catholic church is evil.

MaryinLouisville 11/25/2014

Peace, Love, Music: Sometimes I wonder the same thing:(:(

Join the Conversation