what can i do im adicted to self harm?

Question

im addicted to self harm because of past experiences and ive seen every 1 there is to c about it and depresion but i seem to them apparently fine.. that makes me feel bad coz i dont feel fine.

Answer 1

You and only you can relize that putting the pain you feel on the inside on your outside dose not make it go away, it dose not heal with the pain you put there. You need to get some help, professonal help. You are needing to talk about these past experiences that keep comming up in your present life. If you honestly dont have anyone to talk to you need to go to the doctor and ask to see a theripist. This dose help and this is scary but it is also very effective.
Please stop hurting yourself, Say that " I am hurting myself" dose that make any sence to you?
Only said cuz I care
best of luck to you

Answer 2

I am sorry you are struggling so much right now. self harm is a way to cope with things .... You are right that it can become addicting, just like any other behavior. I am not sure if you are ready to stop doing that to yourself or not, and it is really up to you to make that choice. There are a few good support groups on the web that you may like to check into. There are people from all over the world who chat and help each other out on this very issue. It helps to know that you are not alone and others undersatand what this is all about and how difficult it is to stop the self harming behaviors. anther thing is to not give up and continue to look for professionals who can support you. There is always the underneath issues that are tied into self harming behaviors. Those are the areas that need to be adressed, and how to be able to stop doing so when the urges are there and the triggers. Look up the web site called Safe Haven powered by invision power board.... That is just one very good site that has many members. There is also one that is called SAFE alternatives. You are rioght that you are not fine hun, it takes time and a lot of hard work to overcome self injury. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Hi Munphy,

I am so sorry you have been treated that way. I have had similar experiences, I have various problems including depression and I seen my gp, school counsellor, a phychiatric nurse, told friends, family and everyone either hurt me, made me feel worse or did nothing and made me feel like I was stupid and that it was all " just a phase" over a year and a half later i am still stuggling but have managed to find a nice counsellor. I too self harm, it doesn't mean your ok at all, they are wrong and I think you know it. From someone who knows how hard it is to ever seek help and then to be shot down, so many times...my advice is to not give up, keep trying to seek help, there is someone out there who can help you, you just have to find them. I know how hard that can be.. i think it's awful that people with mental health issues get ignored and neglected and have to actually fight for help.... and then when people actually commit suicide everyone has the nerve to say " why did they not ask for help"....sometimes you do and don't get heard......but you have to keep trying, shout scream and kick if you have to...cus you deserve to get help!

best of luck

x

Answer 4

seems you're suffering cos there's been no closure... you have been short-changed by the justice system, & now health-care professionals are trying to convince you to get over it without offering you the help & support you need... (so you can find a better way of coping).

If you haven't got a close friend who will sit with you when you're feeling full of angst & confusion... when that moment comes, when you attack yourself (beat yourself up), try imagining someone who you really love, respect & value, is sitting next to you holding your hand & looking at you... have a conversation with them... just say what you're thinking out loud... What would a true friend, who loves you, say to you?
Something like... please don't do that to yourself, you matter so much to me...

That might not work, that might only help a bit... I guess somewhere within you, you are just going to find, one day, the grace & strength to change this bad habit. Perhaps that day will come when you realise the self-harming is a left-over caused by that bad person. Do you really want that person to ruin your life? You'll have to use will-power, resolve...

You've survived to date. Well done. Now what can you do to put your life back on it's true path?

Answer 5

You have "repressed anger". You are "cutting" yourself aren't you? - You have to get to the root of the anger and the cutting will stop. You hurt/cut yourself as "self-punishing" and "relief", to you it feels better and you feel relieved! Be more honest when seeking professional help, no one can help you if you don't help yourself, be HONEST... one thing to try, join a group a new group - people who don't know you - try and get away from anything and everything that makes you or brings back to you, that which makes you want to "cut" yourself. Join a club, something that you like. Try "darts". bowling,baseball,floor hockey. Anything that makes you happy and stay away from "dark" video games, and depressed people. Don't drink alcohol, and no "chemicals". A little smoke now and then won't hurt you and may calm you. But no antidepressants, they seem to have an addictive property and you can stop "cutting", but are addicted to the drugs! - So try what I have suggested - I do know what I am talking about. Experience can be hell!

Answer 6

Get your self into a group and a good councillor.
I work in addiction and alot of Femail recovering addicts turn to self harm after there chemical dependency.
You may get some help through AA or at least a direction to help groups.
Good luck

Answer 7

If professionals think you seem fine are you telling them the whole truth when you see them. Have you tried other things other than self harm. A punchbag, an elastic band round your wrist where you can twang it to make it hurt? You can ask to see other professionals if the ones you're seeing aren't helping.

I honestly think the self harm can't be that bad if you're truly honest about it to professionals and they think you're fine, have you tried St John's Wort if they don't think you're bad enough for over the counter Anti Depressants.

Answer 8

Try the National Self Harm Network website. There are fellow sufferers and volunteer counsellors who can help you through the difficult times. I haven't been a member long myself, but looking at the site it looks as though you can put your Yahoo name in your profile and talk one-to-one with members that way. The forums are excellent.

Answer 9

I'm glad you came to us.
I am a self-harmer, too, and I've worked through some of the issues. It's about being in control. When I self-harm, I feel more in control of my pain. I feel more real. That's what it's about. Although it is not okay to do that. Find other ways to feel in control. Work through your issues, whether it be with a trusted friend, clergy or therapist.
Lots of luck,
Jencarlene

Answer 10

Munphy I understand, but please don't give up hope.

Good help and support is there, if you know where to look for it.

I am not going to fall into the trap of assuming that your self harm involves cutting, because from my own experience and that of others I know, it isn't the only way of doing it. I never ceased to be amazed at how people think of ways to do this kind of thing, and what it entails.

But, to be honest, that is irrelevant. What's more important is how to keep yourself safe if you have to use it as your only coping strategy. Because as strange as some people will find this..... that it what it is. Again, I know this from personal experience and knowing my own reasons.

Please use these links to the Mind website to find information that is easy to read and understand, that might help you

Self harm
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+self-harm.htm
(Peaches... you should look at this)

Depression
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+depression.htm

I would strongly suggest that you make an appointment to see a GP, can you see a different one to who you normally see, as you might find him/her more understanding than who has treated you before. Large surgeries mean that you can access another GP, and it is fair to say that some have more knowledge and empathy than others.

You need to be totally honest, about everything, this will help them to look at the best way of treating you. If you aren't on medication, then this might be the time to give it a go. There are lots of different ones, and just because you need it now, doesn't mean that you will need it forever.

Consider this question "would I take a tablet every day if I had a heart condition, and taking it will help me to cope" - I'd certainly answer "yes" to that. I spent many years afraid of medication and fighting because I didn't want it to be forever..... now I think "if it helps me, then I will take it, and for as long as I need it".

Finding a local support group might be an alternative to some of the things you've tried in the past, that you feel haven't been that useful.

I also strongly advocate seeing if you have a local Mind association close by

http://www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/

they are informal and very easy to access, you only have to make a phone call. They offer a whole range of services that are designed to help you help yourself. As they realise that, ultimately, we hold the key to how our own illness, and know we are the experts in our own illness. You will receive support, help and guidance so that you are not left alone coping with how you feel.

Again the thing to do is be totally honest, so that they have the whole picture, and can judge how to advise you best.

I used the services of my local Mind for over 10 years, until I finally accepted that I have an illness and disability (which I did with their help) and that I need to allow myself the things that proved most useful in maintaining a steady recovery journey and enable me to cope on a daily basis.

Other mental health charities that may offer local support to you include Richmond Fellowship and Rethink.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving Mind or one of the other charities chance to show how much they can help you.

I managed to turn my life around, I've had a complete career change and am now priveleged to be employed as a mental health worker for the very organisation that helped me so much.

Recovery isn't easy, and there will be set backs and relapses, but as long as you can see that this is what they are, then it's possible to get yourself back on the raod again, so to speak.

We all have the ability to reach our potential, whatever that is, as it will be different for everyone.

You deserve and need treatment, help and support. It doesn't matter if that is a combination of more than one approach, or if you find one more useful than another and choose to go down that path. You have a right to a say in your treatment.


Try to look into what I've suggested, but please do it with an open mind so that you don't miss out on the thing that will help you most, whatever that may be.

Take care and good luck