[horsecrazy80]

My name is Jen. I have been a self injurer for over ten years. I cannot stop. I have tried and tried but I cannot stop. I have been passing out from blood loss lately and I am very scared. I cut, burn, and beat. I really need help. I am so very scared. I have tried everything but nothing seems to be working. My best friend is the only help I have got but I live in AZ and she lives in MI. Please, please help me. Jen

[SweetCrusader]

Jen,

It sounds like you really need to contact a professional for help, sweetie. We are always here to give support, but self-injury (especially as serious a problem as you are describing) is not something that really anyone can just walk away from without some serious help and a lot of hard work dealing with difficult issues and feelings. That kind of work is best done with the support of a therapist who is skilled and is there in person to interact with you and help you be safe.

I do encourage you to keep reaching out to us and talk about your feelings if you can, and the work you are doing toward your goal of ending your self-injury. And I also encourage you to seek the help of a professional ASAP

My heart goes out to you tonight...

Angela

[downsolong]

I don't know what to say but ... tc... don't let those times of faulty selftalk, wanting to hurt yourself control your behavior.

It was nice to meet you in chat hope you feel better soon.

[Fuzzybear]

((((((((((((((((((horsecrazy80))))))))))))))))))))

Are you in therapy? Many therapists are very good with dealing with this kind of behavior. I'm sorry that your struggling and I'l do anything to help, but I think that therapy is the way for you. PLEASE take care of yourself.

Ry

Let me know how you're doing today.........We care about you and can be very supportive. I agree that you really do need professional help and ASAP.....xoxox pat

[Rapunzel]

Jen,

This really is a bigger problem than anyone should be expected to conquer alone. And, as others have said, we're here for support, and I hope that you do talk to us more, and come here as often as you want to or need to, but we aren't able to give you what you would get from a professional. I'm assuming you are not in therapy, since you said your best friend is the only help you have? Jen, it's going to take therapy to beat this. It's not just a habit - it's how we cope with feelings that we don't have a better way of dealing with. So you have to learn how to deal with your feelings. Hurting yourself makes you feel better momentarily, and keeps you from being overwhelmed by your emotions at the time when they become unbearable, but it doesn't deal with them. They keep building up and getting worse and more uncomfortable, so you hurt yourself, and probably feel bad about that, and it's a never-ending cycle. Hurting yourself is only a symptom of what is going on inside you. Therapy will help you find the real problem, and deal with it, and learn how to approach your feelings in a way that takes care of what is bothering you, and doesn't hurt you or make it worse. I hope you will give it a try.

May I ask, what obstacles are keeping you from being in therapy? Also, can you write a little about what you are feeling before you hurt yourself, and if you can, think of some other alternatives? There is a list of alternatives here, in the thread at the top of the index for this forum. You don't have to tell us any of it - I just wanted to give you a place to start. Number one, though, I highly encourage you to get some professional help. I thought I should be able to do it all by myself, but I was wrong. Therapy does help though.
Best Wishes,
Wendy