My therapist told me that it is just a tool. It's not the best or most effective one but there is no shame in using the tools you have to take care of yourself. She has been teaching me better tools to deal with my pain and emotions. I'm learning that I'm afraid to let myself feel anger or pain and that the need to cut comes from trying to control and hold in these things. I've started writing how I feel, going for walks, locking myself in the bathroom, getting in the tub and crying, all of those things. At first there was a wall and it didn't seem to be helping that much but now it is. I haven't cut in a week and I don't have any desire to do it. I don't think about it at all. I'm sure there will be times when I'll continue to struggle (as I've off and on SI'd for about 11 years) but I have better tools now.

She said after therapy to ask myself "What am I feeling?", "Why am I feeling this way?", "What do I think will make it better?", "What will cutting fix?", "How will I feel after I do it?". Just asking myself the questions and allowing myself to feel my emotions and process them makes the urge to hurt myself start to dwindle.