The urge to cut - Does it ever go away?

Question

A couple of years ago I had a very large loss, and was depressed for five or six months; in which I started cutting. I only did it for a couple of months before I recognized it was addictive, and did the whole cold-turkey approach. I had a journal which I wrote in whenever I felt like cutting, it worked pretty well...

It's been going well, I haven't cut since. The only problem is it seems like a huge waste of time. I still feel like I need to after nearly two years.

I've talked to a psychiatrist, which was cool - but I've left that school. I tried a course of prozac last year, which helped me have a break from the depressive mood, but after a while they came back.

I thought the urge to si would go after a while, but it's still there whenever I'm angry or embarrassed with myself. I've nearly given in numerous times. I've thought about getting back on the Prozac, but I can't be bothered waiting for six weeks, then permanently take a pill a day for the false sense of normality.

I understand some diabetics need insulin injections daily, but I don't have a mental disorder or whatever - how long will it take for this to stabilize out, and the urges to cut dissipate, or what do I need to do to begin that process?

Answer 1

iv had my own experience with self injury

i did it for over 3 years but no one noticed

i dident want to stop either

the thing for me that helped me most was meeting a guy who really cared about me and what happened to me

someone to love me

its a bit like coming off drugs

you'll feel like u need it and you will crave it but eventually it will fade

one thing i found put an elastic band around ur wrist and snap it when u feel like cutting

or else go and hold onto ice cubes until ur hands go numb

just hang on in there and eventually it will go away

Answer 2

You need to tell Ur self that its not worth it

tell your self that only you can change you

you need self control

simply take a walk

or get something that is not sharp enough to make you bleed and use that

i do that

actuallly dont i ts still bad

Answer 3

Hey man, well done for not giving into the temptation

This may sound silly, but when you feel like cutting, have a strong coffee

You'll get addicted to the caffiene, and fulfilling one addiction can lessen your need for a worse one

That's kinda a home fix, though, rather than a permanent cure. Go back and see a psychiatrist again :)

Good luck!

Answer 4

I used to do this a few year ago. I think from when I was 13-16.

and never thought about giving up. But then one day my dad and step mom were having a huge argument about how I was wrecking the family and they didnt know what was wrong with me. I thought it was time for them to find out seeing as they wanted to know so badly. So I cut and just didnt bother hiding it. So thats when my dad found out. He made me go and see a counsellor who was frankly useless, I wasted about 10 afternoons there before they decided I had SAD, which I dont i love the winter months. Anyway, after that, they decided they didnt need to see me anymore and let me go and live my life. Obviously I wasnt cured and I carried on doing it for about a year after that. I dont know what made my urges go away, I just decided that I couldnt be bothered with it anymore. I couldnt be bothered with being upset, covering my skin up, andf lying anymore. It didnt stop straight away I must admit, id do it very occasionaly for the next 6 months or so until it just stopped.

Then when I was about 17 I started to find myself. I found friends that were like me (weird and who liked messing about) rather than the people Id been with before that looked at me like trash. I realised that people do love me and that id been telling myself stuff that wasnt true. A big turning point  for me was when I lived in my mums house on my own. I was my own little person and could come and go as I pleased. I was in control of my life. when I cleaned up, what I ate.. it was nice. This new responsibility meant that I had to take care of other things such as shopping. I didnt need to force myself be "in control" of my body anymore, because I was but in a good way. And just to lash out that I was I got my belly button pierced just because I could (and a little bit to spite my dad :D )

Im 19 now and haven done it for about 2 years and I can honestly say I dont think I ever will again.

The urge does eventually go away, it just takes time.

Dont worry x

Answer 5

i think usually when people try and look for external things to help them deal with their problems because they cant find in themselves.  also think that deep down you are somehow using the depression a a source of your cuting.

the successful way you can stop is if you substitute your craving with something else that you really  enjoy doing  

Answer 6

im 40 years old i cant say that the urge has ever really dissipated...

however my ability to resist the urge has improved as i find more and more alternatives to substitute the need and better ways to cope with life and its stresses and pains

.....

in short when im stressed, upset, depressed, hurt or humiliated i still get "the itch" but im better able to resist the impulse