Hey lostverse, i'm also a cutter trying to find other methods of relieving my emotional problems. I understand why you cut and why it's hard to stop for you. I've been doing this to myself for the past five years and I hope for you that you've just started. It's something that you become so reliant on and a touchy subject for others to handle. When I admitted it to a few close friends some were "disapointed" while others could understand where I was coming from. There are many people like us, and it helps to talk to them because you soon find out that through communication you don't need to vent out your issues on yourself. While the cutting may give you a relief like no other, it only comes back to haunt you in the end. I can look at all my scars and remember exactly why I had cut myself in the first place. Reminders of the pain will only make the urge worsen. I found that talking about why I do it in the first place made it easier not to. I have a friend whom went through the same problem with cutting herself as I do yet she had stopped, I find her courage inspiration for me to do the same as well. I would advise you to perhaps talk to someone about your issues rather than taking them out on yourself, because seriously it only brings the pain back to haunt you rather than the relief you feel at the time. It's hard to admit that you disfigure yourself yet brave that you want to stop it from getting worse. Please message me back if you have any more questions.

I've been cutting for as long as I can remember, and that's a very long time. I started out putting my hands through glass than to razors and now I use a lighter and razor on my self I can go for a few day to a few months with out doing it than. Something happens and I start again. I'm going for almost 18 months now straight on si it's the longest i've done it for. It's getting harder and harder to stop and this time I don't think I have it in me to quit. It gives me some peace and control even if it's only for a few minutes. I'm working with a counslor to help stop but so far nothing has worked. We have a long ways to go before my cutting and panic attacks will end some days I just don't think I can get through it. Have thought about death a lot lately so I cut even more. I'll take whatever help I can get. Please

Ummm you guys should get some serious professional help. You have to watch out one day you are going to hurt your self, and the more and more you keep doing it the worse it gets. You guys are going to put a huge scar in your life. Stop while you still can!!

If it was just that easy. I see a counslor have shortly after I started last year. I take 2 steps forward than 3 back some days. I have so much going on and I don't have any control over any of it. I've tried different diversions but nothing seems to work I still have to cut

Well what have you tried so far?? Give us steps that you have tried?? Have you tried different ways to relax your self, have you seen many different psychologists, talking about this with friends and getting their moral support? Im just curious as to what you have tried. Because then it might be a little bit easier to find a solution.

Tazz,
I know what you mean taking two steps forward and the n three back. I do it myself in other areas. All I can say is keep talking to the counselors and keep putting those steps forward. It will take time but you can do it. I have faith in you. Give the problems to god and then let them go......Not easy to do but it does help alot. Good luck. Keep me posted. Hugs to you, piglady

Hey, im 16 years old and i, too, have cut myself before. It's such a silly thing to do because honestly, the relief is only temporary and every time I see my scars, it reminds me of how deeply sad I was at the time. This just makes me more sad and I wish I never cut myself. I don't know if you feel the same way about it, but cutting helps nothing in the long run. Just talk to someone, a friend, a parent, a therapist, anyone. If you want to talk to me you can ask for my email. I think that the only way you can stop is by realising how little it helps and only you have enough control over yourself to stop cutting. Good luck! Im sorry for what you're going through.

Hi,

are all those that are self harming, seeking any professional help for depression at all? I think you will find as your depression and anxiety ceases then so will the self harm. I know from experience that it is very difficult to stop self harming and have I found this information based on stopping self harm to be useful -

- I have a solid emotional support system of friends, family, and/or professionals that I can use if I feel like hurting myself.
- there are at least two people in my life that I can call if I want to hurt myself.
- I feel at least somewhat comfortable talking about siv with three different people.
- I have a list of at least ten things I can do instead of hurting myself.
- I have a place to go if I need to leave my house so as not to hurt myself.
- I feel confident that I could get rid of all the things that I might be likely to use to hurt myself.
- I have told at least two other people that I am going to stop hurting myself.
- I am willing to feel uncomfortable, scared, and frustrated.
- I feel confident that I can endure thinking about hurting myself without having to actually do so.
- I want to stop hurting myself.



[alderman (1997) p. 132]

to all those that cut themselves please try and do it safely - use sterile instruments to cut with and clean and cover your cuts.

It might also be useful to seek professional help for depression, such as counselling - even if you don't want to discuss the self harm itself, it may be helpful to discuss problems which are causing you anxiety and depression. You could also maybe take steps to reduce the depression such as exercise and eating correctly.




All the best.

Hey hun I used to cut myself as a teenager and I did it for 7 years and now I am a mother of two and that gives me so much more to live for. But I am faced with my sister who is 15 is now cutting and it is tearing my heart out. I cant stop her trust me I have treated her but it doesn't work I just want the ones that do cut that there is life out there and that you do need someone to talk to and I am here just email me and I am glad to talk to you please talk to someone and take care of yourself bc you are loved no matter what you think

hi my name is meha and I understand what your saying cause im 17 almost 18 and I cut myself too. Last night I did that. So if u ever wanna talk just email me.

I too am a cutter. I'm 17, i've done it since I was 8 or some where along that line. I know how it feels. And I don't know what to do any more. I don't tell any one. But I need help. I odn't want to go on like this any more.

Hey I know what you mean by trying to cover up the mental pain.For me when I cut its just easier for me to deal with physical pain then mental because when I cut myself and I bring the pain its okay cause thats the pain I can control...The only pain I can control but if someone were to like take a knife or blade and cut me in the same way it wouldn't be okay for me because I wouldn't be controling the pain.I wouldn't have made it happen.I cut myself to make me feel better to help me feel alive and because I can control that pain.Cutting myself and hurting myself makes me feel calmer so like if i'm in the car with my parents and stuff I either have a little blade I dig into my skin or I use my nails and scratch until I bleed I mean I don't do this if i'm bored I do it if i'm upset or mad or stressed and stuff.The reason your friends probably said they were going to tell your parents is because they care about you but still,you confided in them to keep this a secret also and maybe you should tell them that.

-danielle

hey i'm also a cutter trying to quit. And I was cut free for about 4 weeks but then this kid im in love with likes one of my friends and wanted to ask her out. So I freaked and my best friend ever wasnt picking up his phone which is why I resorted to cutting. I scratched a heart into my leg until it was bleeding. Well now I look at that heart and realize I will have the scar for the rest of my life and I wonder if the quick ease of emotional stress is worth a life long mark. And it's not. You really just need to find another out let for ur emotional bagage. Try blasting ur music when u r home alone or spending more time with friends or focus on ur school work no the hurting. Even taking a jog or a run can help. Or even a cold shower. Just try and find other ways of letting ur feelings out. Please just try its not worth it. And all though I am still cutting I realize that it is not the only answer and it is definatly not the right answer. Try searchin online for self help tips of hotline numbers you can call. Or even call one of your three friends and let them try and talk you out of it. My best friend is almost always there for me and has actually kept me from suicide. I dont no what I would do with out him and you really just need to find someone like that who makes you want to be ok and gives a a reason to hold on and keep going. Just find your angel in this twisted world and everything will be ok.

Good luck
- yours truly
poetry_writter

p.S. Pm me anytime. I will check this as much as I can and will try to help you any time you are feeling the urge.

Hey I used to be like you guys when I was your age. Believe me it was hard to stop because you feel it relieves the pain at the time. Or at least that is how I was. It doesnt relieve the pain though, it just leaves nasty scars on your arm, and you have to always try to hide the scars. The only thing I can really say for you guys is trust your friends, all of my friends did the same to themselves as me, but the ones who didn't wanted to help, but at the time I didnt feel like I needed help. But eventually I met a true friend who was really helping me and now he is my husband. You guys just hang in there. I have many many stories of my own bouts with depression ebing that I am bipolar. If you need someone to talk to feel free to talk to me anytime!

You said you use to cut and now you don't how did you stop?