Rectopathic,
those are words of wisdom for all of us. Often times, the coping mechanisms that we used to use are inappropriate and or no longer help us. We continue to use them because we haven't yet learned another coping strategy. Self harming is never a good coping mechanism, but once started, it becomes what we are used to and its less frightening to us than trying something new and positive.

There is no age at which self harm automatically stops at. I'm in my late forties and until two years ago, was still doing it. The human species is very good at denial, and we seem to push aside thoughts concerning the possible permanent or fatal effects of self harming. I read an article a couple of years ago about doctors using OCD medications for self harming. I don't know if they do that anymore. The bottom line is that before you can stop, you have to dig down and find out why you started. That takes some pretty hard soul searching into places we don't want to go. You have a lot of courage to seek help in finding the cause and a solution that will help and not hurt.

Sam2