What are ways to get help without turning to an adult?

Question

Okay like in my other questions about what to do with my depression problems, i am offically NOT going to any counseling or seeing an adult (out of my own decision). So are there ways to get help without reaching an adult? Are there ways to stop cutting without counseling?

once again for those who answer: thanks

Answer 1

How old are you now?

I started cutting when I was 15 and stopped when I was 18. I never told anyone (including my friends) and I never sought counseling for my problem. I studied up on anatomy so I would know generally where my major blood vessels were located, and I would cut a little at a time. I never cut out of anger or while I was in a rage; I did it mostly out of sadness and depression.

When I finally decided that I wanted to give it up, I started taking kickboxing ... something that allowed me to vent my frustrations and use up energy. When I felt the urge to cut, I would practice my kickboxing lessons for that week. You can try picking up a hobby too -- whether its a physical activity or something more intellectual or artistic. I started writing in a journal -- that I kept in a very private place so that I knew my parents wouldn't find it -- and wrote all of my thoughts. Regardless of how awful or upsetting they might be to another person, I wrote them down and got everything out. Other people say that "snapping" works for them; wearing a rubber band around their wrist, pulling it back and snapping their skin when they get the urge. You could also do a search online for groups of other teens that are depressed and want to stop cutting too. Strength in numbers!

Its very easy for other people to say "Go to counseling", but that's kind of hard for us. Counselors have a tendency to take control over your recovery; they have an idea of what you need to be doing and how you need to be feeling -- and the entire point of cutting is that YOU ARE IN CONTROL. Going to adult or counselor can feel like all your control is taken away all at once, and that leaves you vulnerable ... like a drug addict going through withdrawals.

No one can make you stop except yourself. I hope some of my suggestions will help you. If you ever need someone to talk to, feel free to IM me. Good luck.

Answer 2

If you are talking about simply stopping cutting, there are several things you can try. A favorite is wearing a rubber band and snapping it when you feel stressed or depressed instead of cutting. Another method is drawing lines on your body with a marker instead of actually cutting. I found this worked well with a rather noxious (or foul) smelling marker and pressing fairly hard. This didn't break the skin, but did emulate some of the feeling I got while cutting. Getting a hobby that allows you to vent and express yourself can help release the negative emotions that can lead to cutting. All in all, you will probably always have difficulty unless you treat the cause of your urge to cut. If you have clinical depression it very likely won't go away (at least for a very long time), and you owe it to yourself to at least seriously reconsider why you are not seeking help from a medical professional. I have depression myself, and life would probably be near unbearable without the aid I receive from responsible adults such as my doctor. Sometimes a counselor will not disclose you are cutting if you ask them not to if they are working actively with you and you are making good progress. In any case, you *have* to talk with somebody about this and get support, even if it is a good friend you can trust. A better option would be to ask your guidance counselor if you have a peer counseling program at your school, if not ask him or her to find someone trustworthy and responsible to mentor and counsel you while you are having issues with depression. And if the reason you are not seeking help is because you are afraid your parents will find out, most parents are a lot more supportive than people think, and can actually be the catalyst that helps a child quit cutting. Just remember, you are not alone and people care for you, and that will *always* be a constant.

Answer 3

Depression is a medical disorder, and as a teen you need the help of an adult. Yeah it sucks. But we've all been there. I may be old enough to be your mom, but I remember being a teen and not wanting to listen to my parents. But look, you're here on Answers and getting help from some adults. My point is, all of us, as kids, will need help from our elders at some point in our life. Believe it or not, they do have more life experience.
That said, I do have a site you can go to that is a place for people trying to quit cutting. They support each other.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/acryinthedark/

http://www.healingwell.com/
The first site is for people who cut and have depression and the second site will help you with your depression.They both have message boards and one has a chat room.
Take care

Answer 4

To be honest NO, because cutting/depression is an illness and needs treatment. So please go and talk to your mom or dad or grandparents or some in your family that you trust, because was going on with you is serious. My niece was a cutter and also had depression, and she too didn't want to go to an adult and counseling, but she started getting into trouble by the law doing think that that she knew was wrong, she though by doing these things would make the depression go away and it didn't. She finally got help and now she doing good and she stop cutting, and she on low dosage of medicines and no more depression thanks to counseling. So please seek the help.

Answer 5

Sounds like you are in a difficult position, first off have you tried counseling, its not that bad as you might thing. I have not persononally gone to a pschiatrist or something like that, but I am sure they are not that bad. But, if you still find this door closed, then I would ask the advice of your best friend, not just anyone, your closest friend that you have. Tell them what you are thinking, and they would/should understand what you are going through, and will help you. If you cant find anyone you feel close enough to confide in, I am always accepting IM if you feel the need to talk about anything. I hope you get this taken care of, and may God bless you.

Answer 6

Milly, why don't you want to talk to an adult? They're not going to hurt you. All the adults in your life around you were young once too, and unless they've been hit on the head recently, they do remember what it was like. And what's more, your parents, teachers, school counselor, and most other adults in your life care about you, and don't want you to suffer.

Sweetie, depression is a medical problem. You need to go to a doctor about it. And unless you can find someone who graduated medical school at 15, that means an adult. But remember that everything you say to any doctor or counselor (including your school counselor) is confidental. They're not allowed to tell anyone anything you say to them without your permission. It really is ok to talk to them.

There are lots of things you can do to try to stop cutting, like snapping a rubber band against your wrist or squeezing ice cubes. But the problem is that they don't do anything for the underlying problem (depression), they just help with the physical addiction to cutting. It's a lot like how chewing nicotine gum helps people stop smoking - it just helps the addiction, and not the reasons you started doing it in the first place.

Depression is the result of a chemical inbalance in your brain, and it can be corrected with medication. Asking how to treat it on your own is like asking how to cure strep throat without talking to an adult. In that case what you need is antibiotics, and in this case it's antidepressants. Untreated, the bacteria that causes strep throat can attack the valves of your heart and cause perminant damage (my grandpa actually died complications from this years after the actual infection). And plus it really sucks having it, so you probably wouldn't think twice about telling your mom that your throat hurts and you want to go to the doctor.

Did you know that over time, untreated depression actually causes visible shrinking of certain regions of the brain? It's not clear whether or not it's reversible, but it definitely does a fair amount of damage. You wouldn't let a strep infection sit around until it damaged your heart, so why let depression damage your brain? As your parents to take you to a doctor, or if you're too nervous about that, talk to your school counselor and have her talk to your parents for you. But one way or another, you do need to get help from an adult, and specifically, someone with a medical degree.

I know that it's hard to talk about these things (I've gone three years without telling anyone I cut), but remember that they're there to help you, and nothing else. Parents can be unpredictable and react emotionally, but doctors and counselors deal with these things every day, and they're not going to force you to do anything you don't want to do. I can't tell you what will happen if you tell your parents, but if you talk to a doctor or counselor about it, you'll be in control of the coversation. You can leave at any time and never go back if you want to, and they're not going to force you to tell them anything you don't want to.

Whether you decide to talk to an adult or not, you can also find a lot of support and advice here: http://www.recoveryourlife.com/Forum/default.aspx

Answer 7

It is very "Important" that you find and get help. Your priority has to be getting help. I suggest talking to good friends about it. I suggest calling (anonymously) help lines.
I suggest not turning to an adult- but going yourself to a hospital or doctor with your problems: Everything is legally confidential for them.
I suggest visiting medical sites- and sharing your experinces with others- and with other children.

I suggest helping yourself and then helping other children who are in your position. -so they will have someone to got to.

Answer 8

Most definitely! I personally started home along at the age of 8! 11 is really old to not be allowed to stay at home alone.

Answer 9

Reach to Jesus Christ, ask Him to forgive you and help you stop cutting yourself.
Don't ever go to any counselor and psychiatrist, they only want money from you.
Always go to God Jesus Christ, He never wants your money, He wants you to have good relationship with Him and then when you're done here on earth He would like you to be with Him in Heaven for eternity.
Now it's up to you what or Who you will shoose.

Answer 10

GOD LOVES YOU AND SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO PERISH ON THE CROSS FOR YOU. NOW THERE ARE BOOKS AT ANY LIBRARY THAT WILL ADDRESS YOUR CUTTING. I SAY FROM HARD PERSONAL EXPRIANCE SOMETIMES ONLY GOD CAN PULL US AWAY FROM OURSESLVES.