I've dealt with an addiction to self harming since I was 14. I learned about it when I was hospitalized on the psych ward and my roommate had cuts all up and down her arms. Cutting myself got me picked out of public high school and in constant trouble with my family throughout my teen years. I've improved a lot but still cut myself from time to time. I'm writing this post because I'm curious as to if anyone else here deals with this? What helps you keep from doing it? What things have you tried?
Hello @Auril Thanks for sharing your story. I am glad already when you said that you improved a lot already from that behavior but why still you are cutting yourself from time to time? Are you longing or seeking love and attention from your family? Whatever emotional pain or discomfort you are going through do not think of harming yourself like this just to cope or relieve yourself from the stress and anxieties of your life. You are still young and life has still many things to offer to you. Cheer up! And keep yourself busy in order to forget about this thing. Engage yourself in activities which interest you like in sports, exercise programs, painting etc. Surround yourself with positive things and people. Stay away from the objects that may tempt you to self harm again. And I think it is the best thing to do.
Though I do not suffer from this, I had a friend who did. She cuts her wrists all the time when we were in college. She also joined a fraternity where they have a 'hazing' ceremony. She got bad bruises all over her legs that time. I think from knowing her, she has deep rooted family problems. Her father remarried another woman. This woman is very strict to them and even restricts how much allowance they get. My friend cannot even buy things that she likes because her father's money is being budgeted by the stepmom. She feels her father loves the new wife more than he loves her and her brother. So I hope by reading this story you may know that you are not alone. Many people are like you. My friend is now married and has a daughter and son. She still has problems but I know she is not cutting herself anymore. Whatever you are going through, it will pass. You just need some support maybe of a friend or another loved one. I hope you get through this.
I did cut, I started cutting at the age of 13 and did it for a year. The main reason why I started cutting was because I didn't know how to deal with my problems. I would cut in every situation if I was in bad mood or either if I was just upset. The breakout was when I committed suicide after the death of my Step Dad and slit my wrists. After that I had to go the psychologist for nearly a few months and it helped a little bit. I don't cut anymore, but the scars are left, I picked smoking instead.
My friend used to experience this sad event. Back when he was 7 years old, he would always punch himself which was scary. He would have bruises and scars all over his face and body. Now he is 16 and is certainly getting better, but those scars from 9 years ago still haunt him time and time again.
I have seen it affecting young people in my area. Eventually they come to stop. It can be as a result of being idle or isolation from friends or family members so that one finds time to cut themselves. I think somebody in that state needs help and support from friends and family members so that they may stop.
Thing is he kept lieing to his parents saying that bullies at school were beating him up. His parents soon came to find out what was going on though.
I'm sorry you have gone thru all that, OP I have heard this is a big problem for some people, they say that when you cut yourself your body releases some chemicals that makes you feel better in order to ease the pain. According to what I read this is the main reason why people tend to get addicted to cutting, plus by cutting they are said to release certain emotions like anger or stress.
This is a tough one. I have a close friend who admitted to doing this to herself. I never saw any marks, she obviously hides them. It really bothers me that she does this. I asked her why and she said it takes away the feelings of anxiety, panic attacks, or whatever is bothering her. Inflicting pain on yourself and cutting your own skin purposely seems really extreme to combat things that are so simple to correct. I think you need to determine the reason why you are drawn to it and why you would in the first place. If it like my friend, I think you need to find another avenue to dissipate the bad feeling. Running, jogging, walking or something physical that gives you a rush that exercise can give. If you are just copying someone else and it became a habit. There is a deeper issue. It is a sadistic action that you inflict on yourself. Sadism is something that should be dealt with even if it is only on yourself. Getting a rise or pleasure out of hurting yourself. Making something else go away. You've got to re-wire the brain. Figure out a plan to stop and make a back up plan. Use the back up when you feel you might fold. Focus on the goal. When the idea floats in say, No in your mind to yourself. Sounds silly but it works with many situations. When I say rewire I mean connect back to actions that make sense. You can change this.
Let's say that when I used to be a kid, I was kind of "unusual", preponderantly because I'd be rejected from so many groups, and would have had the horrendous tendency of slipping a knife out of the kitchen and just do myself harm. But it didn't resort only to that... I was also implementing thoughts in my head to hurt myself from a mental point of view. Now I'm fine.
This became a fad 10 years ago when I was in high school and it was pretty much ignored. It's sad to hear that you got psychiatric help. I have a friend who went through this in high school. She had a lot of romantic problems. And I don't mean the superficial angst-based stuff. It was pretty sad and I won't divulge the details. She just came to school one day and she had a few cuts. We noticed that the cuts were increasing. Finally, here closer friends went to her and everything got talked out with the guidance councilor. She went through some serious self-harm and is now doing better. Hopefully, you get rid of this addiction completely.
An old friend of mine, a heroin addict, used to cut her inner thighs with a razor blade. She did it to punish herself for her "dirty behavior". In order to finance her drug habit, she occasionally prostituted herself, and it made her hate herself. She always told me that the pain from cutting herself, and the flow of blood made her feel cleaner. Fortunately, she was able to get a good place in a rehabilitation center where she received counseling and excellent care to overcome her problems. It took a long time for her to recover, but she did it. These days she expresses her inner difficulties through her paintings and stone sculptures.
I have been tempted to self harm, though not in a way that would draw blood. I think part of the reason for it being addictive is that you have a certain level of control over the pain. Usually, people self harm because of emotional pain, depression, or feeling numb/dead inside. Controlling physical pain is a twisted way to take control of pain in general.
I suffer from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I've been on-and-off self-harming since I was around 12-13. There are many online guides to help kick a self-harm habit, but my biggest piece of advice would have to be therapy. Therapists can help you diagnose and treat any underlying mental disorders and give you advice for controlling your self-harm urges.
I don't suffer from cutting myself, but I would advise you to seek professional help. Cutting yourself isn't normal, and also harmful. How about you try to check in a rehab tailored for self-harm like this one? http://www.therefuge-ahealingplace.com/co-occurring/self-injury/ so that you can quit the habit?
This is very difficult for me to say, but I am so glad that I am not the only one. Recently I was diagnosed with depression, and one of my main outlets was through self harm. Not necessarily cutting myself, but I had a terrible habit of hitting my thighs until I bruised. It usually happens when i'm having a breakdown and the situation at hand feels like it is beyond my control. My body just goes on autopilot and I start punching my legs while crying. It is a very horrible way to handle my problems but I am currently seeking help to avoid doing this to myself.
Nice to know you are dealing with it better and hope that you can totally get rid of it. I have seen a documentary about some people who do self harming to the extreme and they have various reasons doing it.
I reckon this can happen from stress or depression and it can be an easy thing to do as the person can feel like harming themselves, and have seen some people do this as it can take time to overcome the problems. I try and think of the positives as it can be something to think about, as it can make me see the benefits of caring about myself and the rewards from doing hard work. I have never harmed myself and done something else to get my mind off things and also try and get the mind get cleared from the things which can cause me to do harm.
Cutting is demon possession. I used to cut all the time when I was unsaved. Then when I got saved by Christ I never looked back because I was a new creature in Christ. The bible tells of a demon possessed man in the book of Mark, who would cut himself day and night. It's something only Jesus can deliver you from. We are all lost without God.