I'm a prolific self-harmer.

I have been for the last 10 years. I've tried numerous meds etc, and I was wondering if there was anything else I could try?

In all honesty, I'm keen to find a way to stop, or at least abait the urge to cut, because I don't find it to be in the least bit helpful anymore, but it really does seem to be the only way I react to certain things

Hmmm, I have no remedies. But I feel you should try to channel your feelings through something else, in another way. Sweetie, get professional help with that. There are strategies and ways to get around this.

Best wishes

Deerheart

Ice, when you feel like it put ice on the place you are thinking of doing it, leave it there till it hurts, it really does help, you get the pain but not the scar.
also i found giving blood helped me.

i used to SH mate, but now i have learnt to fight it. i also know a site that helped me as well, if you want to know please pm me xxxxxxxxx

I suggest you get to the root causes of your need to harm yourself, so suggest some intense Counselling, go for Gestalt, rather than Person Centred it will probably work better for you!

I'm assuming that as you have had various medications, that you have also received or been offered counselling? Self harmers have many reasons for doing so, ranging from it being as a result of abuse, a release of sexual tensions, bullying, bereavement, as a "fashion statement" and also as a means of obtaining ownership/control of one's own body/life.

You need to understand what triggered this cycle for you, and find help to deal with that - medications are only going to dull your perceptions - like using a sticking plaster to "fix" an amputation, if you'll pardon the analogy.

Are you or were you part of a subculture which regarded this as normal, or even desirable? If so, have your friends moved on or are they still harming? If the latter you could be subconsciously continuing to do something which you would otherwise have outgrown, as an attempt to remain within a comfort zone - to fit in.

I have been there in that self harming was the only way I could take control of events in my life. No matter how much other people were hurting me, both physically and emotionally, I could go one better - and this empowered me. A difficult concept to get one's head around, and especially as this was when the term/act was virtually unknown. Nowadays it's different.

Fortunately, I have taken all the crap out of my life and disposed of the people who were controlling me. Maybe this is where you are coming from? Whatever the reasons, and they are complex, with no two people's being the same, there are ways out of this cycle. You have recognised the fact that your harming appears to have become habituated, and this is a step in the right direction in itself.

Why not PM Maybell? I do hope you are helped, and recover your own will as quickly as possible.

Tasx

The ice method is a good one as an alternative, if its the pain that is a part of the experience for you, but for some people who self harm the sight of the blood is part of it, so if that is the case, get yourself a thick red felt tip pen and use that instead of something sharp. it might sound a bit daft, but it does help some people.

Ran this through google and came up with the following linkie with plenty of resources that might help:

http://www.siriusproject.org/

Mileindra, it's a self-imposed way of reacting to circumstance, of obviating its consequences, like choosing to be aggressive or choosing to drink too much.
It's a learned pattern you have applied to your subconscious and now apply without thinking.
*You* have the choice, *you* can do whatever the hell you like. You are a powerful person, and that is the truth and I suspect you know it.
You can change any time you want.
If you wish to talk to someone, call me on (PM Pete for number) but don't expect sympathy.

Be Well, Peter


edited by Pomona to remove phone number

This worked very well for a friend of mine, as did putting a rubber band loosely round his wrist and twanging it when he felt the need to hurt.

I too hope you get some help. It's a hard thing to have to deal with, I know.

I'd go with what others are saying, the reasons that a person self harms is varied, its important that a person understands what their 'triggers' are and then, in a sense, dismantle the learning that leads to the behaviour. not easy. Strongly suggest you explore help options, particularly choose a professional with lots of experience with self harm (self-help groups that specialise in this, I am sure, will help you find the appropriate help you need).

Gestalt therapy attempts to bring the person in to the here and now by focussing on what your body, mind etc is doing at a particular moment - it is quite challenging and the experience of it is quite unlike other therapies. I believe Fritz Perls is a therapist particularly associated with technique. For other therapies: Carl rogers, Gerad Egan, Melanie Klein, Alfred Adler. there's loads.

fizz

Blimey, many replies! Thank you, to each and every one of you who took the time to read, and reply. It's really appreciated.

Have PMd you Maybell, and am looking into the suggestions you guys have posted...often, you know the answers already but you just need to "hear" someone else say them before they seem real or feasable.

Thank you, again. I'll let you know how I get on.

Many hugs xxx

good luck Mileindra x

I have just begin to stop self-harming again after a slip-up of almost a whole year free from harm. Things that helped me where:
-scribbling red ink in the places i wanted to cut
-holding onto an ice cube until it melted completely
-writing, doodling, scribbling something down as another way of expressing emotions
-calling a friend or going out with other people so that you don't get the chance and it helps take your mind off things.

Also clear your room/house of anything that you use to harm yourself with. Keeping them in your reach will only help temptation

Good Luck x

I stopped That almost a year ago but still have the scars, but im quite hairy so you dont notice my legs are scared to hell but my wrist shines visibly and my excuse is i scraped my self with a steel wire brush. I hope you manage to stop soon before it ruins your life.

Pm me if you want