[Jayne13]

I can’t stop cutting myself. I don’t know what to do.

[SlumberKitty]

That is a tough place to be in @Jayne13. I was there for many years. I'm just now starting to recover and I have a long way to go!!!

Do you want to stop cutting? For a long time I myself was ambivalent which made it impossible to stop. Even though part of me wanted to stop, part of me didn't. It was like this internal war with myself.


Do you have a therapist? Sometimes therapy can be helpful in learning how to control urges, or at least manage them, or at least cut more safely. I don't know how you cut so that last one may not apply to you. But therapists can also help you uncover what is behind the cutting. What is motivating it? What are the feelings you have about it? Before it? During it? After it? They can help you explore all these things.

Does anyone in real life know about your cutting? Do you have any friends that you can go to that would be willing to support you? I once had a group of friends texting me on alternate days just letting me know stuff like that they were there, that I was strong, that I could go without cutting. Stuff like that. I was able to go quite a while with their support. I have a different group of friends now that I go to for support and I can talk to any of them about what I am going through and they will stop and help me. Either by text, or email, or a phone call. I couldn't contemplate stopping by myself. I could promise myself and then break that promise every time. It is more helpful for me to have people that I care about that I am committed to and who are committed to me. That they will help me through it.


You can write here if you like. You can write here as much as you like. There are people who are reading and rooting for you.


If you are in the US there is a text helpline 741741 and they will help you get through the urge of cutting.


You can journal. You can hold ice in your hand. You can wear a rubber band and snap it when you feel like you want to hurt yourself. You can dance or sing or exercise instead. You can go for a walk. You can play with pets or play computer, phone, or video games, you can do lots of stuff to get through the moment, and then get through the next moment, and then get through the next moment. You can make a self care box and use that when you want to hurt yourself. Put in some photos. Some good lotion. Your favorite quotes. Numbers of friends you can call. A stuffed animal. Etc. Then use that instead of hurting yourself.


I wish you well. HUGS if wanted. Kit