I have been cutting for seven years now. It has gotten to the point that I am getting stitches all the time and am severing tendons from cutting too deep. I have tried many diffrent types of teatment. I have seen numerous therapists and shrinks, I have done group therapy, CBT, DBT, lived in a residential treatment facility for 2 years, been hospitalized many times, and tried to do some work on my own. I really want/need to stop, but when that urge hits I can only hold off so long before it get overwhelming and I give in. What is left for me to try?
2006-10-02 06:46:50 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
I'd say you've already taken a good step. Being honest and upfront about any mental health issue shows that you've overcome the stigma that's attached to it and that you are genuinely looking for help.
If you are at the point where you are severing tendons, you are also at the point where severing a major blood vessel is possible. This only highlights the urgency.
I would take the desire that you have displayed to help yourself and try some of the treatements you used to receive again. An RTF can be a very useful tool in a situation like this. Not only can they help you monitor medications, and help you lead a decent, productive life, they also mean that someone is present to help you should you hurt yourself too badly. I'd recommend you look into a new one as soon as you can.
Also, since you seem to be reaching out for help, you may find it useful to take that energy and apply it inward. Is there a past issue (trauma, crisis) that you haven't worked through? What is the cause of your desire to hurt yourself?
Bottom line: after reading your question, I get the sense that you really need, and want, help. The fact that you are a possible threat to yourself, even if you don't want to be, means you need to find some services and get some professional help. You deserve to live a life not having to deal with this problem, and I believe that you have the strength and determination to overcome it.
You just need to find the right treatment facility, and you can't, at any point, give up hope.
2006-10-02 07:02:04 · answer #1 · answered by Joshua 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand what you are going through, I not to long ago cut myself. I never thought I would be able to stop but today I can say that I don't cut and don't even get urges anymore. I too have been in residential facilities, mental hospitals, partial treatment programs, therapy, psyche drugs, you name it I've done it. But I have to be honest with you through all of that treatment nothing helped me until I faced the underlying issues and slowly work through them. I wish I could say that it went away overnight but it didn't. Cutting yourself is a way to deal with the pain you feel inside it makes you focus on another kind of pain instead of trying to work through whats really wrong. I know it's hard but if you really want to heal you have let those issues come to the surface and keep working at it until it's better. I don't know if your troubles are from the past or something present but I do know you can't continue to push your feelings down. Let them out if not to the person write it down just to get it out of your head. I had to find a new way to help me deal with problems rather than not deal with them at all. Some of the smallest things I do help so much, whether it's reading or going for a walk or playing a game with my family anything you can think of that will give you a little bit of joy do them when you get those urges and trust me little by little they'll go away. I don't know if you believe in prayer but that helped me the most. I hope this helps you .
2006-10-02 07:10:56 · answer #2 · answered by cutiew/bigbootie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to get at the underlying reason why you do this, and accept a lot of hard truths about yourself. Be willing to face the bare facts. A lot of cutters have personality disorders, and the prognosis for these disorders is poor (I'm sorry, I don't have a source other than the fact that I thumb through psychology magazines and textbooks a lot) but the reason for this is apparently that people are behaving in a destructive way in order to protect their egos in some complex way.
Basically, you need to be honest with yourself, honest with your therapist, and truly willing to change. And if you are, then you will change. It won't be easy and it won't happen quickly. You're not going to find the solution on an internet answer site anyway. Go talk to a qualified therapist and keep working at it.
2006-10-02 07:00:54 · answer #3 · answered by Kelly M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
many times it takes years to stop cutting. You can't think that it will just stop because you want it to. people that have never had to deal with the issues will never ever understand the whys and how comes. the simple fact you want to stop is a step in the right direction and the fact that you can hold the urge off for so long is also good and a positive. what you need to to find out what the inner drive is that causes you to cut. most cutters cut because something inside them drives them a hurt or an inability to deal with something and there for the physical pain is easier to deal with.
even after several years of not cutting it's like an addiction and the desire comes back. the truth is you may never get rid of the desire fully but learn new coping skills and strategies in your life.
good luck
2006-10-02 06:57:44 · answer #4 · answered by no 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've seen " numerous therapists and shrinks" and still you ask us? What do all of these experts have to say. This is a big problem that can hardly be solved by the people here. If these specialist are unable to help you, ask THEM to recommend someone who might be able to!
2006-10-02 06:56:53 · answer #5 · answered by webnut58 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i will pray for you. i hope you stop. have you tried going to church? when you let the Lord take over you and your life, many things change. He gives u a peace and understanding like nothing else in the world. If everything you have tried has failed, what do you have to lose?
2006-10-02 06:55:51 · answer #6 · answered by pinkie443 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can control it once you realize where the problem actually lies and get away from it or avoid the problem that sets you off to start cutting .
2006-10-02 06:59:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest you put in a padded room in isolation. If you're harmful to youself, you don't need to have any sharp objects. One of these days you're going to end up killing yourself.
2006-10-02 06:50:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
if you cut up and down your arms instead of side to side it may help
2006-10-02 13:22:46 · answer #9 · answered by mrslongbong 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with pinkie's answer above. Jesus can change you.
2006-10-02 06:56:03 · answer #10 · answered by IT Pro 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋