Seven years, for me...but this year has been the best since I started. It's been four months since I cut last, though I have "harmed" (bruising) once in that time.

I started out scratching, and over a few years got to the point where I was cutting quite deeply (usually needing sutures). I overdosed once and almost ended up in hospital, but managed to talk my way out of it (don't ask me how...maybe they were full, and decided to buy my "I wasn't trying to kill myself when I took all of those pills" story.) Along the way, I got into therapy, started taking medication, and really tried to work on stopping. I found out that it's related to almost everything in my life, from stress, to external events, to other people's opinions...basically everything I care about. The key to stopping, for me, is keeping a balance between the positive and the negative.

I have a lot of scars. I don't know if I'llever feel comfortable wearing shorts or a tank top again, but I guess we all have to live with our pasts. I do feel, however, that my scars are a part of who I am. It's kind of an odd feeling, I guess. Sort of a mix of shame and a wish for acceptance at the same time.