Self-Injury Ed and Support

I haven't in a couple months. I was able to start recovering when I realized how much it was making things worse for me and tried really hard to stop. I just took it slow and I relapsed a few times, but I'm clean now.

It's a tough addiction to kick. I think everyone who is struggling can quit, though, if they try hard enough. It helps to have people to talk to, and having something that makes you happy and is healthy. Like listening to music, playing a sport, watching a certain movie, etc.

I regret starting but at the same time don't. I think it really helps my abilities to help others who are struggling with SI and I'm a much stronger person now. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, though.

Since starting on Prozac, I've more or less stopped cutting.. I don't call myself a "recovered" cutter, because honestly, all it would take is a bad day and an opportunity, but I haven't since February, and before then it was since September. I've had a few scratching episodes in between, but nothing on what I was doing to myself..

And if I can offer a suggestion that may be miiiildly inappropriate, BDSM candles really are so much better than the tired, useless old "snap a rubber band on your wrist" advice. For those that don't know, BDSM candles burn at a lower temperature than regular candles so if you drip wax on skin, it doesn't actually burn or cause any real damage, it just really fucking stings. The sensation is very similar to cutting, I find.. Also mine is red so when the wax drips it looks like wounds/blood, which adds to the realism and helps with the desire for "the real thing". Just putting that out there! I got mine online for like £8, was well worth it.

I definitely idea with the fading scars as well. I have some that are permanent on my arm (as in, they haven't faded for five years, they aren't going away) and I honestly wouldn't get rid of them if I could. It's not because I'm proud of them but sometimes I look down and it reminds me that it wasn't all in my head (so to speak). That what I felt was real and I'm not being over-dramatic or faking anything.

***

I found out today that - while I thought I quit self-harming at 15 - I've been self-harming without realising it for five years. It's such an insane set back because I feel like all the fighting was for nothing.

I am so fucking close right now. I would kill for the boy to be here and cuddling me

I feel alone because I self-harm and I'm male.

I have been self-harming since I was thirteen. I'm about four months without, and still fighting. I wonder if the struggle ever ends.

Self harming for a good four years, most I've ever gone is two months without. I've got an addictive personality, I guess.

It's my gender, I swear. I wish I'd been born male, my life would make sense that way. When I've got the money I'm getting the surgery, no question.

If anyone feels lonely and wants to find support from someone who listens you and doesn't judge you, me and some friends have created the We Care Project!

We’re a group of people who CARE! Our purpose is to just listen and give advice, a virtual hug, anything to make you feel better, to make you feel like you’re not alone. Demi has inspired us to stay strong and now we want to inspire each other. Join our community today so you can tell your story and really be heard!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/demiwecare

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Forum: http://forums.loveislouder.tk

We’re a family and we’re helping each other out.

Hope you find some help in here!

Actually, never mind...

Meh. Self harm is something I've been doing for almost four, five years now. Over the past two months it got really bad again when my depression came out of no where and ate me whole. To make things worse, I have a broken heart. It became an every day thing I would do after school, at least four times a day. Then I started taking diet pills again to get high off of, and then I became suicidal. I checked into a rehabilitation place, though. So I'm working on getting better.

Honestly, most of my friends do or have self harmed. I don't support it. I think it's a terrible thing but overall, I understand it.

My thought on it? I hate SI. I don't hate people who do it, but I hate the fact that they do it. No one deserves to be in pain. I've lived with someone who's been battling with it for a really long time and it's just so hard to know someone is feeling that badly. A long time ago I somewhat knew it was going on but I didn't know what to do.. Only recently have I begun to somewhat understand it because I didn't know much about it before.
They talk so much about drugs and stuff at schools presentations but I think they should inform people about these types of problems too because, though I am not an SI-er, I know it really is a horrible issue to have to live with.

I've been self-harming for two years. I made my first cut March 22nd, 2010, exactly a month after my thirteenth birthday. I've been cutting, biting, scratching, and pulling my hair out since that first cut. I became addicted. I've only been caught twice. Once was in the school's girls' bathroom. The other time was at home. I haven't hurt myself in a week.

I started self-harming because a) I was depressed and b) I felt like I deserved the physical pain that came with self-harm. I felt like I was a terrible person because of my past, and I'd always been taught that terrible people deserved to be punished. So, in a way, self-harm was my own punishment. Now I know that I didn't do anything to deserve that kind of hatred and pain towards myself. I can never erase the scars on my arms, legs, sides, and stomach, but I don't wanna erase them.

I think of my scars as battle scars. They mark an important part of my life- the part that molded me into the girl I am today. They symbolize the pain I felt when I was bullied into anorexia. They remind me to stay strong and believe in love, hope, and faith.

I started self-harming when I was 13, so I've done it for about 5 years. The last time I did it was Wednesday, and before I did it, I felt completely depersonalized and out of body. I couldn't control what I was doing.
I am on Prozac, but it doesn't help anymore. My mom has been telling me that we'll go to the Doctor soon, but it's been 2 months and she hasn't done anything even though I keep reminding her. I've stopped for long periods of time and relapsed super hard, making upwards of about 10 cuts at a time. They're all on my legs and when I take a shower, I look down at them and think...holyshit, I've made it 6 years. I'm still alive.
But I'm not fully okay yet. I still do it...but I want to stop. I just..can't at this point.

I revoke my last comment. I hurt myself tonight. I meant to cut, but apparently my blade just wanted to scratch me. I guess any pain is better than none.

Cutting has become a kind of medication to me.
I will feel like shit when I come home from college sometimes, sad and lonely and tired but cutting just makes everything better. It allows me a chance to self-destruct, breathe and look after myself when it's done. I feel like I'm a person again afterwards.

I've been self harming on and off for nearly 4 years, but up until fairly recently it's never been a big deal. Then last year I started pulling my hair out a lot, ended up with bald patches everywhere. Now it's cutting. I have been cutting regularly for about 4 months now, I guess.

My mum knows about it. Only because of the stench of antiseptic from my room, I would not have willingly told her. Also a few of my very close friends know, and they have all self harmed regularly before so they can provide some support.

I do it.
I want to stop.
I'm scared to talk to my friends about it.
They know I do it but I don't want to bother them.
If they see this I hope they don't get upset.
I'll go... :/

I have not hurt myself in a very long while.
I have a boyfriend who would see if I did.
I'm getting that feeling where everything is bottled up inside of you and you're going to explode unless you get rid of it, which is why I used to hurt myself.
Rubber band snapping and ice do not work. I quit smoking cigarettes.
Does anyone have suggestions?
I don't want anything bad to happen . . .

@ miserable dru.
My therapist recommended "visualizing" the act of cutting instead of actually doing it. It doesn't really work for me, but it might work for you.
Otherwise, try to find an outlet? Talk to someone, write it all out, scream, cry, anything to get it out without harming yourself.
I wish I could be of more help :\

@ z o m b i e
I was thinking the other day that it really sucks that I live in the city in an apartment where I cannot scream because it truly would help so much to just be able to scream for thirty seconds, but if I do, someone will probably call the cops or think I'm being murdered. s