Here's to trying together

Way to go and not letting the stress send you over t hat edge.

Taking small breaks about every half hour to hour to stretch and listen to some relaxing music helped me get through tests.

Check in again if you need to.

My level today is a 3. There are some thoughts but nothing interfering with my activities.

BP - welcome.

yesterday i was really, really high on the scale jut didnt have a chance to check in. this is because i went to the doctor for my anxiety, and they gave me some heart medication. when i looked it up, it was sometimes used for anxiety related to social phobia/performance anxiety. i was pissed because i don't have either of these. my anxiety happens out of the blue, hardcore, and is NOT fun. i dont even know if this %#@&#! will work. thinking about it makes me so mad. what did she think, i was lying? i even TOLD her i didnt have that kind of anxiety. i thought maybe she'd give me a benzo but noooo she wants to jerk my damn chain. whatever. she was a nurse practitioner, too. she doesnt know %#@&#! about psychology. >

just venting. sorry.

great job at not cutting through out it all.

What coping tools did you use? Sounds like you might want to write them down since it worked for you in a very stressful situation.

I know its hard not to vent here on this thread but lets try and keep this thread specifically of levels and coping tools ok. that way when people do come here at levels 4 and above they can read about coping tools without getting more triggered by problems behind the cutting.

Take care and heres to a better day than yesterday for you.

I'm getting anxious, I was supposed to go to my sister's today. It's her birthday, but also I'm supposed to go shopping, cook for and then attend a potluck at my husband's work. My sister didn't tell me until last night (late) that they were trying to have me over...and the other sister is not even sure if she can come. I had already said I would do the potluck thing before my sister called--but feeling anxious that I will hurt her feelings, now. I won't be home until probably 11pm tonight, at the earliest. I enjoy spending time with the boys at work, so I want to go.

Anyway, that and the prospect of shopping is putting me at a 3-4. =/

myself - i respectfully disagree, i think that venting and any other emotion should be allowed here. not just because i already did it, but because say someone comes in here as a 9 or something and finds themselves just typing and typing and typing. i think any kind of emotion should be allowed here, because part of NOT cutting is feeling and embracing any and all emotions.

i dont know. i just feel like this thread shouldnt be too strict. i dont like rules, they are what made me shut down in the first place...

I would agree because sometimes venting is good. It gets out in constructive ways instead of cutting but that is what the other threads here in this message board already addresses.

There is nothing stopping anyone from venting, just not on this specific thread.

The idea of this thread is so people come in spcifically for checking in their levels and locating and using positive coping tools.

Right now this thread stands out in the fact that it only addresses levels and positive coping tools.

We add venting and it will be just like the other threads where people have a mixture and then alot of times the thread dies (gets burried) because alot of people dont want to read through alot of triggering stuff just to get to the coping tools listed in a persons posting. Take for instance my postings about DID. Some people want to know the coping tools and still others don't want me going into details about the disorder and my therapy program. So now I post my information to my blog and direct people there. They can choose for themselves to read it or not and its not in the face of others who don't want to see it.

You are welcome to post in your thread checking in your levels and positive coping tools that you use venting and directing people to your venting thread/post somewhere else in the self injury message boards.

I specifically started this thread to deal with the positive (keeping track of our levels and actions) on how to stop cutting NOT the negative aspects that get addressed in the triggering/ venting and so on behind the cutting.

Im sorry that you don't like rules but to keep this thread for what it was meant to be for I need to put this boundry on.

Im sorry if that upsets you but my first couple posts here explained what this thread was for and I stand by that.

I understand, I just don't think it makes much sense. That's okay though, I'll shut the hell up now. You all have fun.

are cutters only allowed?
mlyn

Obviously since this is an open to the public website anyone can read any of the threads regardless of content and if they have that problem.

If non cutters have coping tools they would like to offer by all means we can use all the coping tools we can get.

In place of checking in your cutting level for the day let us know you're not a cutter that way you won't get bombarded with postings asking what your level is which is the first question to be answered in this thread when checking in.

Now before I get someone else upset over the fact that I am trying to keep this thread on track of what it was meant for by not allowing venting posts in this thread and the person doesn't understand I am going to point out something -

If you look at all the other message boards within each message board there are threads. In those threads each one deals with a specific situation or aspect of the title of the message board. For example in Social we have specific threads that only specific game information is posted. In Psychology we have for example a specific thread dealing with one area of therapy - missing the therapist. In Dissociative we have many areas that are for posting specifically about one symptom for example the cave is for those that need to hide, each thread in the health message board deals with one specific aspect or topic of a health problem. They are kept on topic of what the thread was meant for by the moderators and administrators.

So what I am doing here by having a specific focus area to my thread is not anything anyone who is not a new person hasn't been dealing with for a long time and is used to.

Yes this thread is about self injury so its in the self injury message board. Then like what happens on the other boards I narrowed that big focus area down to one specific self injury problem cutting then I further narrowed the topic of cutting down to a specific problem with cutting - how to stop doing it by addressing the level and coping skills and leaving the whats behind it up to the professionals.

Anyone is free to join in but please keep posts here on topic of what its meant to be for just like you do in other message board threads - checking in on your level of cutting thoughts and urges, Letting us know what you are doing to help yourself with positive coping tools, suggesting positive coping tools when needed and letting everyone know how their suggested coping tools worked.

My level started out to be a 3 this morning. as the day progressed it went up to a 4. I am not going to go into the whys and so on for its not relevant to this thread. The coping tools that I used to help myself was biking. I also had a therapy appointment today. We did not discuss my cutting but we did do one of my favorite coping tools - relaxation techniques with an exercise together which helped alot. walking out of my therapy session my level was a 2 and has held there the rest of the day by my closing my eyes and remembering what was done in therapy.

Lol got close to that edge :P But today I am feeling a lot better. Not even on the scale. And I can see your point about keeping this as a checking in system thing, because it is totally true about posts being buried. So I agree with you and I can promise not to vent here.

Thanks it was a very good plan :P

Are you not coming back here?

myself - please. i understand exactly what threads/board/forums are for. im not an idiot, ive been using the internet for years.

tamzinrose - sure, i'll be back. it just doesn't make a ton of sense to me why we can't explain why we're at the level we're at. just throw out a number and leave caution to the wind, i suppose. anywho - i hope you're doing better and good luck to you! PM me if you need anything.

My level right now is a 1 - no thoughts or urges. I have kept it this way by first sleeping in and now cleaning my house.

Thank you. and since the issue of venting was brought up I started a thread for hereIam and others that may need a place to vent. I will not be taking care of that thread because like some others in the self injury message baords and other areas here at psychcentral have said -sometimes reading those type of posts make me crave it more so I am turning it over to HereIam or others. Take care all.

my level so far today is a 1. there are no thoughts or urges bouncing around. I am keeping it that way by staying active outside walking today, doing some shopping and errands.

How are you all doing today? Wanna share? (((hugs)))

LOL Been a quiet sleepy day here. no thoughts or urges. So far leel 1. How about you? and hugs back atcha.

<font color="green">Hmm what level is it when you want to the urge is very strong and you find yourself visualizing the cut? That is where I am at, I am keeping busy and not touching anything sharp enough to endulge in the fantasy. I am also editing the fantasy so as not to give anyone else any ideals. It has been a long time since I have cut and I really don't want to go back to it.</font>

visualizing falls into the catagory of cutting plans being thought of thats levels 5 and above. You are able to keep busy so at the point of your posting you weren't yet losing the fight but maybe close to it so that puts you at a 6 bordering on 7. Great job at knowing you needed to stay away from sharp things.

How about writing your fantasy down but after each negative sentence write down a positive one that will change the fantasy from cutting into taking care and pampering youself like one of mine one day was--

I want to get aXXXXXX box of chocolate broiwnies
and thein I want to XXXXXX cook it with lots of walnuts in it
and then I am going to XXXXXXXXX eat it with bryers vanilla ice cream on top........

And then I did go out and buy the ice cream and brownies and a friend and I ate them while watching a movie rented on cable pay per view.

Im a 2 right now. a couple thoughts as I woke up but thats about it.

My level is a 3 today. I think I am going to take a walk soon in all this rain we are having right now. Lets see how wet I can get walking through the parking lot to get the mail.LOl Think first I'll go to the store.and walk around for about an hour.That way when I am done stomping in the gian't puddle otherwise known as my parking lot I can come in and take a warm bath and make some cocoa sleigh rides and draw and write for a bit.

Thank you skittles for the how are you? pm. It reminded me I haven't "checked in" today. I am having a great day number 1 on the scale - no thoughts or urges. I think in part it had to do with sleeping more than 2 hours last night I have been using a relaxation tape and last night I got 4 hours of sleep and was able to use the tape right away and go right back to sleep for another 5 hours after a panic and my cutting level upon waking last night was a 5. Im definately keeping that tape handy for future thoughts and urges .