Attempting to quit cutting

I think professionall help wpuld be a good thing to add to what you are already doing. What you are doing now is going to be the base for your recovery. Professional help would be for if you need medication or some other resources you can get them. You are doing a great job, you can do this one day at a time. Just focus on today and don't think about tomorrow. Just try to get through today without doing anything.

It can be tough to stop. Do you know why and when it started? Often abuse, satanic ritual stuff, or severe trauma can lie behind cutting.

John
NZ

(((angel)))) From what you share, I think you could do it pretty much alone, but if you have IRL support, why not seek it out? There are often deeply seated emotional issues and talk therapy can help.

Have you tried anything in particular with your ending this self harming behavior? I think to realize that the self harm --cutting in your case-- is not the actual problem but is a symptom of an underlying problem. I wonder if it became worse as you removed the other self harming behaviors of drug use etc???

What I've found is someone who self harms generally does so to help her dissociate away from the terrible feelings, make her feel real when they aren't feeling in control but dissociated, or topunishherself for failures or not living up to someone's expectations.

First let me urge you, if you continue to cut, to do so safely. For the non-cutter this may sound absurd, but I think you will understand. Make sure you guard against infections... and sterilize the area and any tool you may use...and depending upon the severity, bandage or seek expert medical help if you find you've had to self harm in this manner.

When a person first gets the thought to cut, if she can distract herself from that thought and seek out other people that may help avoid the activity. Even if a person doesn't talk with others in a room, if she can keep from being alone and feeding the "need", it often passes.

I know of some who have used a red marker to convey the same feelings of the cutting. From the permanent marker they graduate to a washable one...and while working on the underlying emotions can often move on from any self harming activity. It's a process though, becoming less and less severe and less and less often over time. As a person learns good coping skills, self harm is not needed.

A person with this inclination would benefit from becoming aware of the "self talk" going on... trying to counter any negative thoughts as not true, that "GOD loves me"," I am worthy of love", over time will help.

Few self harmers really want to commit suicide but it can occur, often by accident. Please do be careful.

I just want to let you know that I am rooting for you and it can be done. I think great advice has been given. I have not done it in years and don't get urges to either.

Praying for you now.

I think it's easier with professional help - not medication necessarily, but talking therapy.
Another thing I've found helpful is using ice - holding an ice cube tightly for a few minutes is painful, but not actually self-destructive in the way that cutting is - and it doesn't leave scars. It's not a solution, but it's a step in the right direction.
Praying for you, sister.