I self harm (and dont want to - possibly post-natal-depression) And am just wondering do you/ have you ever?

Question

Can I have advice on how to stop?? And How many of you have done it, or did it - Cutting, bruising any way in which you harm yourself? Just so i dont feel so alone, and such a freak??

Answer 1

i have
cutting, burning, bruising, the works. I'm currently in therapy for it, and so should you, The fact that you need a release like that indicates that there is a deep running problem. Trust, me you don't want to let this go. Therapy will help ALOT. Its nothing to be ashamed of, alot of people go to therapy. Cutting DOES NOT mean your crazy, it just means your hurting emotionally, It doesn't make you a freak, your not an "attention seeker" but you do need help.
A good short term fix would be to get as busy as you can. Pick up a new hobby, find a new place to go. Join a sports team, get active.Also, (if this is at all possible) get rid of anything you could use. That means needles, razors, broken glass,knives, whatever sets you off.
The best thing to do would be talk to someone who won't judge you for it. If they'll listen, and won't tell you to "get over yourself" or that your just seeking attention, talk to them. Trust me, saying it out loud will help.
Think to you self that by harming yourself, you also harm those who care about you. Think about how you would feel if someone you loved was hurting themselves. No matter how much they say its under control, you would still worry. Having been both the harmer and the harmer, I know both ends of the story.
Set small goals for youself. Say "I will not harm myself for ___" MAKE SURE ITS REASONABLE. This could mean anything for a few hours to a few weeks, depending on the person. Tell your trusted friend or write it down.
Find a release. Write storys, peoms,draw,play an instrument,ect. Iisten to some music. (make sure its not something that would set off any self harming feelings) Scream alittle. If your not an artistic person, go out for a walk or a run. (Excersise makes you feel better all around, so that a double bonus)) Don't kill yourself, just get out. If it makes you feel better AND it's something thats good for you, do it.
Know yourself. Know what sets you off, or when you'll have an "attack". Learn the early warning signs, and heed them. Find something else to do.
Get professional help. Self mutilation is NOT something to play around with. A theripist can help you in ways that even the best of friends cannot (and visa versa). A theripist can help you get to the bottom of your feelings.Its their job to help you, and most do that job very well.Find someone you comfortable with. Do it. The results will amaze you. Remember that you will never see the theripist outside of therapy.Medication can also help, but its not allways the magicial answer.
Above all, do what works for you. Play around with solutions. Its not the end of the world unless you let it become so.

Remember that there is no such thing as "minorly" hurting yourself.

Answer 2

Yep, I did for a long time, in lots of ways. Not going to mention them just in case someone reads them and gets ideas.
The good thing is that you've realised you have a problem, and that you don't want to hurt yourself. And no, you are not a freak. You're just someone who's had a bit of stress and had to find your own way to deal with it.
Is there anyone else who knows about this?? It helps a lot if there is someone there just willing to listen to you talk about it. If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. But if there's someone there you can go to when you feel like self-harming, either to hug, talk to, phone, or just have someone near, it'll help.
Think about the reasons why you cut yourself in the first place. Is it because you were upset, angry, sad, craved feeling, wanted to see blood, had nothing better to do, etc etc. Then think of something that will counteract that. If you feel angry, punch a pillow, throw unbreakable things across a room. If you're sad, make yourself hot chocolate, run a nice bath, read a favourite book, anything to coddle yourself and make you feel special. If you want to see blood, try writing on yourself, with a pen filled with red food colouring. If you crave feeling, get something that causes a sharp, physical pain - try to crush an ice cube in your hand, or ping an elastic band against your wrist. Use your imagination.
If you feel you can handle stopping this by yourself, then I'd definitely encourage you to try.
The only other thing I would suggest is going to your doctor, who may give you something for the post natal depression, and, if need be, refer you to a counsellor. Whatever you do, good luck, and you are definitely not alone.

Answer 3

You are definately not alone. I am 19/female and I have experienced self harm since i was about 15. I have been diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety. I would cut my wrists or other parts of my body (legs, stomach, chest) and I even started sticking pins into my body, to see how far I could get them in.

There is hope to stop, I haven't Self Harmed in about 2 months now!!! YAY. You can do it to. I seeked professional help, I am on medication, but I have taken up reading. I read, and read, I always carry a book. I never use to read, but just lately I have taken a huge interest in reading Novel's about Self Harm and Depression and Suicide. It helps me to read these books because as I read i am actually putting myself in someone elses shoes that has depression and it helps immensley. I also thinks this helps because I use to do it in the privacy of my bedroom, and now I pick up a book instead of a knife/blade. Reading the book takes me away from whatever is troubling me.

I can recommend a few books but as i have only just started can only name a few, but have a look on Amazon.com and once you search on a couple of these books it should bring up related books.

I never promised you a rose garden, prozac nation, the pact (by jodi picoult), the bell jar, bodies under siege, the scarred soul, cutting, crosses.

Good luck. Remember your not alone, and there is something always out there for you. You are not a freak and you are not alone. You have done the right thing to seek help. xoox

Answer 4

I self harm and have done since I was 15, I am now 35. Sometimes medication helps but not always. I try very hard not to do it now, but when I get flash backs I cut without realising what I am doing till afterwards.

Try getting a pillow and battering it do death when you feel like cutting, or a stress ball that you can squeeze the life out of.

Feel free to email me to talk when you feel like cutting at [e-mail]. If you think you have post natal depression see your doctor who should be able to help, it is very common and your not a freak.

Answer 5

i have to sympathise with u and everybody else that has answered u're question.the first thing i have to set straight is the word DEPRESSION.it does not mean u are going batty,it does not mean u're a freak,it is a fact that it is actually a chemical imbalance of the brain,(ask u're doctor if u do not believe me) and tablets for this are available.u're doctor should also give u the option of counselling which i advise u take .i have suffered from chronic depression for seven years and was given a drug called citalopram which helped me a lot.i was on them for six months and had to visit the doctor every month whilst i was on them.during those six months it was hard work to even motivate myself to do the simplest of things like going out for a walk with my children,but nearly a year later i have come of the drug am working and have a better outlook on life and i am also starting college which i thought i would never do.during that difficult time i had thought of not just harming myself but also my children which made me realise that there was a big problem.please visit the doctor as he is more understanding than you think and he won't think that you are a freak.hope u get well soon, and don't give up it will be hard but it will get easier.

Answer 6

I started self harming when I was 12. I'm now 28 and haven't done anything in 4 months, but I have to really fight off the urge.
When the urge hits, I go work out, listen to music, drive around or I try writing my feelings down on paper. (Of course, I rip it up after.)
So, you're not alone with this.

Answer 7

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 8

i'm beneficial they are able to be troubled by some sort of melancholy, subject in adjusting to the recent parental function, in having a baby in the homestead whilst in the previous there have been none. whilst it is not submit natal or submit partum (those are without postpone on the subject remember of childbirth and are attributed to the hormonal fluctuations from being pregnant and childbirth), any significant existence substitute which includes adoption could additionally carry a feeling of melancholy and subject in adjusting to a sparkling way of existence, i assume. And definite, i assume in adoption, some adoptive mothers and dads would bond greater relatively than others, compounding the subject.

Answer 9

I have cut in the past but it didnt solve anything, it made me feel worse doing that to myself. You need counselling and im sure there is support groups on the web and through your doctor.Your not alone many people get down.
I had a cousin who had a terrible nightmare and chewed his pillow all night, in the morning his wife asked how he was, he replied ok just a little down in the mouth. tee hee

Answer 10

hey hun,
believe me you are NOT alone. there are so many people who do it.....one of them being me. you are not a freak.
stopping's difficult but you can do it if you really want to. i've tried many times but am not going anywhere. i'm sure you can though. you'll get through it. therapy is a good help though.

if you want to stop there's many things you can do.
1. speak to a therapist and see what they can do
2. google: stopping self harm
3. hold an ice-cube untill it hurts
4. draw all over yourself with red pen...or something like that
5. have an elastic band round your wrist and flick it untill it hurts
6. wrap an elastic band as tight as possible round your little finger till it hurts...then release it...the release is just as important

thats all i can think of for now. but if need anything else feel free to email me.
good luck. you can do it if you want to.
email me for anything...help, support..anything.
xx