I think I might be the oldest. I just turned 58 When I was ten, I used to drag my forearms down the looooong length of a cement building near my home. The trick was to NOT remove my arm the entire length of the wall, tearing off the skin until it bled. Then I'd turn and do the other arm. I'd get such a high and sense of pride for my ability to do this the length of the building on both arms. Interestingly enough, no one ever really asked about reason for the "falls" or "bike accidents" I used as an explanation for the cuts and abrashions.

Then I went for years without anything. Of course, my emotional ups and downs were still pretty significant. But I was successful in my career and just substituted workaholicism for SI. Then in my early thirties, when I was terribly stressed, I resorted to hitting my face, head, arms and legs so hard that I'd bruise. This was sufficient to relieve the stress.

Things quieted until I was in my late forties and a very severe depression. This is when I started cutting. It lead to such a depletion in my red blood cells that I had to have several transfusions. I got into therapy and got serious about my recovery. I've been SI free for over eight years. There are times, when the stress level is high, that I'm tempted, but I've hung firm. I do think that we can all learn new coping strategies, but I know for myself that SIing (in any form) is the easiest way for me to deal with my heightened stress level. There is nothing like the rapid relief, but I know it isn't healthy and I work hard to stick to my new, healthier methods.