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from Judy
Now when I feel like cutting I try to get around others. Put myself in a situation where I can't. Or I journal the feelings that have brought me to this point. I try to figure out why I want to cut. What am I really angry about? Who is causing the most anguish at the time? How hopeless is my situation or is it really hopeless or just temporary?
from Pattie
I can remember one time period when she would draw out the feelings that she had. Putting it on paper helped her to see it and get it out. They were not pretty pictures as you might imagine but she didn't cut herself that day.
from Pengy
My other option is a bit destructive too, but better than hurting myself directly. I start to break things that mean something to me instead of cutting myself. Sometimes that eliminates the need to cut, but it still isn't the best approach. I guess my need to cut stems from a feeling that I need to punish myself.
from Rebecca
As an interim measure, while you try to understand the cutting urge and control it, you can take a stout rubber band and put it around your wrist. As long as the urge to cut does not involve the need to see yourself bleed, believe me, snapping that rubber band repeatedly is going to hurt.
Try something else that makes you feel like you're alive. Some people benefit from just getting outdoors and really opening their eyes to the world around them. Sometimes dancing to loud music until you're exhausted helps.
My personal favorite is putting the CDs with backup music on the stereo and belting out some of my favorite pop and musical theatre numbers. (I'm a reluctantly retired soprano.) This is very helpful for me when I've got the blahs and feel a bit numb, tense and worn out, but not really depressed. I don't know if the benefit comes from belting out the songs, which has a similar physical effect to a primal screaming session, or the increased oxygen intake required to sing with that kind of power.
Think of the things you love to do that give you a release and make a point of squeezing them into your schedule. When I need to sing, I don't delay it long, because the anxiety builds quickly. I'm stable, but can get briefly destabilized by stressors, so I take action at the first sign of trouble.
from Wonder
I went through some cognitive/behavioral therapy at a day treatment program and it worked on controlling the self-harm behavior.
More of this Feature
- Part 1: Personal Experiences
- Part 2: Suggestions for Coping
- Part 3: Words of Encouragement
- Speaking from Experience: Self-Injury - Main Menu
