I used different things so I wasn't just attached to one specific thing, I'd even (shudder) pick up sharp things on the street if I felt desperate. But I do remember making the decision to leave a blade at home before heading out. There was one cutter I used most and I left it in some drawer and found it years later (I'm a huge slob) and felt the most wracking aching sadness at the memory of using it.

The thing is I didn't quit the way most people describe quitting an addiction. I never decided that I couldn't do it again (ok I did commit to never cutting again when I decided to have kids but by then I hadn't done it in 7 years or something anyway). I just started subbing in better ways with a little cutting here and there until I didn't need to do it so much anymore.

I kept reminding myself that though the whole thing seemed automatic, and though it seemed to "just happen," it was always a conscious choice to cut. So I always also had the choice not to.

What would happen if next time you felt like cutting you just didn't do it? Or said to yourself "okay if I still really, really have to cut this badly in an hour (or ten minutes or tomorrow morning or whatever) I can do it. But for the next hour (or whatever) it's off limits. Just for one hour I'm going to have to find another way to cope." You won't implode from not cutting right? Usually by the time your hour is up, the intensity has passed.

Then you can think back on that hour and figure out how you managed to survive it and keep breathing without cutting. Did you call someone? Did you go bake cookies? Light a cigarette? Walk? Journal? Watch TV?

You did a good job. Even if you cut at the end of the hour, you'll have still interrupted the bad feeling/cut cycle. There are probably already times when you want to cut but don't do it, right?

Also try to add things that give you pleasure and a sense of purpose to your life.

That's how I did it. One urge at a time with many, many setbacks. Does that kind of make sense?