I Broke My Addiction To Cutting, But I'm Affraid I'm Going to Start Again?

Question

A few months ago my school councelor was informed that I was cutting myself, as a result she told my mom and dad, and that landed me in therapy and on anti-depresents. Quitting was so hard, I was addicted to it, dependent on it, but after weeks of hard suffering I broke free of my addiction.

Now, month later, my life is slowly falling back into h**l. I keep getting these urges to cut, part of me wants to so badly. I know the release I can feel from it. I know how much better it could make me feel, but at the same time I know the horrid results that can, and will, come if I dare scar myself again.

I already vent through music, art, and running. I'm out of ideas on how to shake this feeling! Please help me! Do any of you have an idea of how I can feel better.

Answer 1

I used to cut myself every day at least 7 times a day and i therapy they said to keep a rubber band around my wrist  and every time i felt like cutting i could snap the rubber band as hard and as much as i wanted and it worked it helped me hopefully i will help you

Answer 2

My friend went through the same thing. You need to surround yourself with family and caring friends. Make sure you have people to help you as you struggle, and just talk about it. You may feel better if you share your story and feelings with other people like you. Remember that it's okay that you feel miserable some days. It will take a long time to be rid of the guilt and pain. Don't isolate yourself. You aren't alone.

Answer 3

Do you have problems in or out of school? Something is keeping you nervous and or scared. What are you cutting yourself with?

Tips:

Knife- You feel like you need to be protected some how.

Scissors- You feel like you need do change something about you.

Nails or Teeth: You are nervous and or want a way to find yourself.

To stop, place a cold cloth over your hand and face and eat chocolate but not to much chocolate, maybe 2 pieces or three. Then ask your parents to help you calm down.

Answer 4

Don't do it! Don't do it! Don't do it!

I have relapsed 5 times in 3 years.

Today woudlve been my 11th month without it until I hurt myself yesterday coz i felt like i really needed to.

I dont think anyone would understand how much i regret it. And now i wish i had just cried it out instead.

Please dont relapse, its worse then feeling you need to do it.

Answer 5

u must return to ur psychiatrist again

u need to continuous therapy & u may be well soon

Answer 6

I myself went through this for years...

The power I got from punishing myself, trying to show others I knew how awful I was "so stop punishing/hating me", "I can do it myself"...all that. My own controlled way of showing my guilt and shame and hatred of the person I knew I was.

I have had to learn that I am a person who is worthwhile, valuable and have a contribution to make to society (even though I didn't see it at the time). And live with those thoughts and feelings and tell myself that when I am tempted to punish myself for my non-perfection.

When life isn't exactly as I want it. Usually in relationships, when they are failing, that is when I tend to want to relapse, but again I have to remind myself that theses things will pass....my kids ask about the scars and I have to tell them about some of my inner hurts and it hurts them to see it....

Think of the future and I hope all will pull though for you.

Mel

Answer 7

When I was feeling horrible about three years ago, I poured everything that I had into writing. Anything that made my cry, or anything that made me so sick of the world, I would put into my stories. If someone was mean to me in school, I would make him a character and then beat him up or have him humiliated. It was especially helpful because the main character was almost a mirror image of myself. In the world I had created, there weren't any problems. No bullies, no hate, no pain, only what I wanted.

Three years later, I have ten books under my belt and I feel better then I have ever felt, mentally and physically. Some of the stuff that I wrote way back then was pretty weak, but it didn't matter. I am the only one who will ever read it, and it got me through my life. Remember that. It doesn't have to appeal to anybody but you. You are the sole reader, and therefore, you can do whatever you want.

Answer 8

I went through the same thing. I'm 15 years old, and spent all of my 7th and 8th grade years stuck in the same rut, the cutting addiction. Towards the beginning of 8th grade, my school councilor was informed of the matter, and she too called my parents. I still battled the addiction for a year, my parents being called many more times. They worried for me, and hurt for me, but they knew that there was little they could do without me being willing to recieve the help. Though, somehow, on my own I quit. It wasn't a full-on sudden process, though. I would go a day. Then, I would go three days. Then a week. Then two. Then a month. Then a month and a half. Suddenly it'd been a year. It's amazing how much life can turn around when you change your outlook. I forced myself to being seeing the good in everything, and eventually it became habit. It's now like second nature; I always look on the bright side of things. Just start turning things around until you can find something good.

One of the ways I quit was through writing. I found poetry to be an incredible release. Also, I threw away all of my knives and needles and scissors and razorblades. I told my sister not to let me have any of those things unless I asked, and to watch me use it for what it's made to be used for, then take it back when i'd finished. Now i'm trusted with sharp objects, and I've been clean for over a year.

You can do it love, I have faith in you.

Answer 9

It's not easy but it is possible to stop cutting, but please remember that if you do have a relaspe it's not the end of the world, you just stop again.  Music and art are great for releasing emotions.  Have you ever tried writing?  Journaling can help (but it can also be triggering so you have to be careful).  Creative writing is a great way to deal with stuff.  You can put your characters through the stuff you're going through and gain a new perspective.  Running is good too, actually any type of physical exercise is good.  It releases the endorphines that cutting does but it's actually good for you.   Another thing you might want to consider when you start to have the urge is get around people.  If you have friends you go hang with, call them.  If you trust them enough to tell them about the urges go for it, but be careful because a lot people don't react well and that increase the urge.  If you don't feel like interacting with people, go to the park or the movies or some place where you wouldn't do it.  Most importantly get away from anything you use to do it until after the urge passes.  And in reality get rid of it, you don't need it any more and if you it around it will make easier to relaspe.

Ice work sometimes.  Stick your hand (or foot which is what I used to do) in a bucket/bowl of ice and leave it there until the urge passes.  It hurts like h**l but it's not doing any real damage.

Answer 10

A way to avoid falling back into bad habits such as cutting is by finding things you like to do that give you a release of endorphines like cutting did.

Ask what makes you happy, that isn't self destructive. And do it.