[suzzie]

been struggling with s/i-ing lately. have stopped for a day or two here and there. but no longer. also been having intrusive thoughts. dont like them. theyre tempting. just come quick and out of the blue. is there a way to stop them.

[Sannah]

If I remember correctly you aren't supposed to fight them but acknowledge them and don't act on them. Will you tell your therapist next time that you see her? Very good for having days that you don't self injure!

http://www.panic-and-anxiety-attacks...sive-thoughts/

This might be helpful.

[Christina86]

Originally Posted by suzzie

been struggling with s/i-ing lately. have stopped for a day or two here and there. but no longer. also been having intrusive thoughts. dont like them. theyre tempting. just come quick and out of the blue. is there a way to stop them.

Unfortunately thoughts can't just be turned off. BUT like what Sannah said - acknowledge them, but then move on WITHOUT acting on them. After all, although you don't like the thoughts, they are yours and deserve to have some attention paid to them (if you ignore them, they tend to get worse and 'louder') but that doesn't mean you need to act on them. Thought & action can be two separate things.

Sometimes antidepressants and other meds can suppress some of the thoughts, and sometimes learning meditation and visualization exercises can help (what was mentioned at the beginning of this reply is a form of visualization that is quite common - to "ride out" the feelings).

Do you have a therapist or someone who can help you with strategies to cope that don't involve self injury?

[suzzie]

ill tell in an email. hope she wont be mad.

[Abby]

Intrusive thoughts are horrid. I have them frequently. Sometimes they shock me to the point where i freeze. But I don't often act upon my intrusive thoughts although the intensity/frequency of them often leads me to be worn down. I have realised with some of my thoughts they are a visual expression of my feelings. It is like my body has realised it can't express my emotions, and my mind wont compute them verbally so it visually shocks me to try and make me listen. So like the others have said, acknowledge them, the more you face them the less scary they become I have found. Of course you are always going to have a few that are too distressing but maybe the bulk of them can be helped this way?