Later in Life

[Gwen'sMom]

Has anyone started cutting later in life. I'm in my mid 30's and I have been doing this for a couple of years. I only did it once in high school. I feel as if I should "know better" being my age but it really helps when I'm numb.
I feel pretty alone because most people who do this seem to be in their teens.

 

[bubblefish]

*hug* I am only a teen myself, and have never really struggled with SI but I do know of people who have struggled later in life, both on CF and in real life. You are not alone.

 

[texannurse]

HI! I am in my 30's and I have been cutting for a long time off and on, but it has gotten worse more recently. I have been cut free for over a year, but I would say that there is at least one other person struggling with this "later in life" You're not alone.
TN

 

[IzzieWizzie]

I know people on other forums who are your age and self harm. You're really not alone.

 

[Gwen'sMom]

I always thought I was kinda strange being older and I try not to think "I should know better". I've been pretty good lately.

Does anyone feel like a coward if you don't harm yourself as much as your last time? I'm having trouble with that.

 

[byhisstripes]

I'm Deleting thanks

 

[Bryan519]

Has anyone started cutting later in life. I'm in my mid 30's and I have been doing this for a couple of years. I only did it once in high school. I feel as if I should "know better" being my age but it really helps when I'm numb.
I feel pretty alone because most people who do this seem to be in their teens.

Sounds like you're beating yourself up pretty good there Gwen's Mom. There is no appropriate age to engage in SI. I was 38 before I ever did it. I'm 41 now and haven't Si'd in 7 months. I'm a man on top of that, so I really felt like an oddball. It doesn't have anything to do with age or whether you should "know better" or not. I believe it usually manifest earlier because of certain kind of trauma that you incur earlier in life, however I never really faced any kind of trauma until a series of events which started when I was 35.

Don't beat yourself up. That leads to unwarranted guilt, which leads to duress, which ultimately leads to more self harm. It becomes a viscious circle. I would recommend seeking help if you haven't done so already. Don't try to deal with this on your own.

Oh and to answer your question as to whether I was disappointed at smaller cuts. Yup. When you're in that state of mind, you have a certain result in mind, but remember, you have an inner survival instinct within you that tells you this is not healthy. That, in addition to God's voice of course, is telling you not to do this. So don't feel guilty that you didn't harm yourself more. Thank God for giving you some restraint. That's something to rejoice about.

 

[Exodus1513]

I started when I was a teenager, which I believe is the 'norm' for this.