i self harm?

Question

i self harm but i have not done it for a while yet i say yet because i know i am close to doing it again because of the angry feelings in my head that i can not get rid of they sometimes over power my other thoughts that im thinking, ive tried councilers but they have not worked ive written in journals and even drew pictures but still most of the time this does not work either ive spoke to people but you can only keep upsettin them so many times even if they say they dont please help me to try and stop if not calm down on it as im using razors now because they are sharper than anything else ive used

Answer 1

hey,
sorry to hear about it. im like you. self harm and cousellors don't work.
before you can stop self harm you have to realise that you really want to. it's hard and you need will power and determination. if you are sure you want to get started. it will take a long time and it will be hard.
to start with maybe you could try going back to the best counsellor or try a new one. i decided to give it one last go and i think you should to.
i know you've tried writting things down and drawing, but have you tried alternatives to self harm? if not you can try some of these:
1.holding an icecube in your hand- it will give you a feeling of pain but it wont damage you
2. snapping an elastic band around your wrist-this will also give you pain but no damage
3. wrapping an elastic band round your finger than release it- this will give you some pain (if you do it tight enough) and then when you take it off it gives you the feeling of release
4. drawing scars all over your body with red pen- this will make it look like blood and maybe thats what you like
5. punching or breaking something (not your body)- this will release some anger but not onto yourself
6. google: stoping self harm- there may be some infromation on the internet that may help you
each of these methods depends on why you self harm.

if you can't totally stop at the begining try to reduce it or use less sharp things.
email me for more help. i've been there, done that (still doing it)....but i can help.
good luck.
xxx

Answer 2

Where are the angry thoughts coming from? Are you angry at a person or something that has happened recently? Anger is usually an emtion that covers hurt or sadness. Try being angry/sad/hurt outloud instead of only in your head. If you dont feel you actually have anything to be angry about then remember the thoughts in your head are not you. It is something that you have not been able to control up to this point. Thinking is something you can stop doing with practice. Start noticing your thoughts instead of reacting to them. Pretend you are another person listening to your thoughts. Just listen to them with out any sort of judgement or feeling that you must do something about. Just that alone will make you feel a little different. Not so helpless.
Medication can also help with those thoughts toa degree. But you must also do the work involved in learning how to react to them when it happens. Your pain is only yours if you decide it belongs to you. The cutting is to "get outside" of yourself so that you dont have to "listen" anymore. It is a form of relief for you. Try some other ways to get relief. First by what ive mentioned above. Don't be afraid of those thoughts. They don't belong to you. React to them as if you were watching and listening to them from some other place. I'm not going to tell you not to cut. It is your decision and you have to decide if you want to stop. If you choose it....you will find a way to make it happen. DONT GIVE UP!
Thats the only thing I will tell you NOT to do.
You are worth much more than you think. You deserve much more than your mind will tell you.

Answer 3

Hello,

You are allowing your feelings of anger, negativity, self hatred, rage and so forth to overwhelm you this is the real problem. You are turning your hate & rage against yourself, you are turning the anger against yourself and this is at the heart of the problem.

For most people the appropriate way to channel their feelings of anger & hatred is to express it outwardly, say in a row or argument with another person (i.e. conflict), if things get very out of hand then physical fights take place. Especially when two people have been drinking to much alcohol.

When anger is NOT openly vented or openly expressed, it can turn in upon itself and when this happens its called depression. But in your case the voices & the feelings are not imploding as depression but as self harming behaviour.

**What do you think would happen if you felt very safe? safe enough to let out some of that hate & anger. My guess is you would slowly stop hurting yourself.

**You need a safety valve to let out your feelings of hate & anger and until you get that the self hurting wont stop in my opinion. You know yourself that self harming doesnt make the anger or feelings or voices go away (well only for a short time?).

**You need help & a safe place for your hate & angry feelings. Thats all I can comment on here really.

**I do wish you well & sincerely hope can find a place & people who can understand and help you with your feelings.
IR

Answer 4

Have you tried holding onto ice-cubes, thats suppose to help. That way to get the pain but without harming yourself.
It's c r a p that you get no relief from the journal writing etc. My sister use to self harm, and this really did help her. She also found some really good message board web site where other ppl who self harm are members and they all helped each other through it (I'm sorry I don't know the name of it) She does now have a councillor that she likes and trusts.....but it took her a long time to find that person, she, like you didn't rate them at all at first.

Take care of yourself, and I hope that soon you find peace of mind and quietness of heart x x

Answer 5

it's a hard thing to get over. i suffer from self mutilation also. people tell you to stop...you look for help...it's hard to find something that helps.. the only advise i can give you is next time you pick up the blade call someone you really trust not to be angry and some one who Love's you and you can really talk to. tell then about everything that was upset you. sit down to with them and really talk heart to heart. let then tell you there problems to. try to work things out. it's a horrible habit to have. I've tryed to stop several times but i haven't yet.. I've slowed down though and that's a plus. if you ever need some one to talk to get my email off my profile. I'll try and help you the best i can. good luck...

Answer 6

Try harm minimisation. Put an elastic band around your wrist and ping it hard against you to give you the sensation without the injury.

Another technique is to squeeze an ice cube in your hand the pain will be very intense but no injury.

These are techniques that i have taught clients when working with them in the acute mental health ward. I now also advise clients that i work with in through the crisis team i know work with

Answer 7

I hav self harmd n posted 2 questions hav a look @ my answers some of them are quite good but think if u r mega upset n no u r gonna self harm then think i will do it in 5 mins n in 5 mins if u still want to do it then say i will do it in 5 mins then make it longer everytime it really works!!!

Answer 8

Please seek help immediately!
Effective medical treatment should involve a combination of psychotherapy and possibly medication. An effective therapist will help an individual identify the feelings and emotions associated with self-mutilation. Furthermore, therapy should focus on learning to use positive behaviors as an alternative to self-mutilation.
Although there is no specific drug of choice to treat self-mutilation, medications that alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and sleep-impairment are often popular. Preliminary research has found decreased serotonergic activity in self-mutilators, and hence selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors such as
fluoxetineand sertraline are often used.
Patients:
-must have a "heartfelt motivation to stop"
-have the right to voluntarily withdraw at any time
-must sign a "no-self-harm contract" before being admitted to the program
-are discouraged from exhibiting or discussing scars with other patients to prevent contagion
-must refer to their behavior as self-injury to control "war stories"
-must complete written assignments that focus on the negative consequences of self-injury and the benefits of staying free of self-harm
-are expected to develop and practice at least five alternatives to self-mutilation

A new therapy uses psycho physiological responses to an image or memory of an event to simulate responses experienced during the actual execution of self-mutilation. The content of guided imagery has been demonstrated to effect the psycho physiological response. Through imagery, people can experience the relief of self-mutilation without actually performing the act on themselves.
Be smart, get professional help ASAP!!
Semper fi
CJ

Answer 9

I know how your feeling i self harmed for many years i haven't done it for nine months now. but i am still left with the scars. sars that i will have for the rest of my life and that is so upsetting.
when i was cutting i never thought about the future or the scars or the risk of bleeding to death i just acted on impulse you need to take a miniute to sit back calm down and ask yourself if you really want to damage your body in this way. do you want to spend the rest of your life in long sleeved shirts hiding your scars? cry and kick and scream if you have to but dont punish yourself. you are so precious take care of you!

Answer 10

When you feel the urge to do this, hold ice in your hands for as long as possible. The pain will give you the edge your looking for, but you won't be harming yourself long term. Eventually you can ween yourself off, but remember - this is an addiction you're facing and not a lot of people realise that.