[purplelephant]

So a few month ago I started self harming (specifically, cutting). It only lasted about a month and then I looked at myself and thought: I really don't want these scars ten years from now. So I decided to stop. It was surprisingly easy to stop, but in my moments of intense rage (which triggered my urges originally) I needed an outlet. So I started writing on myself. Just words of utter self loathing, starting mid-calf and coming up my body to where the neckline of my shirt would be. I thought this was a good solution, so long as no one saw.

A week ago I shared this with my T and she said that writing on yourself, while better than cutting, is still a form of self-harm. I always thought that this was what one was supposed to do to help fight urges, but she feels so strongly that it is self-harm that she is probably going to have me switch to a different therapist because she is CBT and she thinks I need DBT.

I was just wondering what your opinion of all of this is. Is writing on yourself self-harm? Or is it an OK alternative? Thanks in advance

[splitimage]

Hi there,

I used drawing on myself to stop self injuring several years ago, I found it really helped with out doing any damage. Of course I wasn't writing bad things about myself. But I still don't think it's self harm. Actually when I was inpatient at a psych hospital one time, the nurses actually kept red felt tipped pens at the nurses station that we could get to draw on ourselves if we felt the urge to self harm.

That being said - DBT is really good, so if you can get into a program, I'd encourage it. It's really intense, but it's really good for learning to stop self destructive coping patterns. I'm currently in group DBT and finding it helpful.

splitimage

[SoupDragon]

Writing on yourself when you get urges sounds to me like a fantastic idea - no permanent scars, no risk of infection etc.

I wonder if your T would like you to be able to be able to deal with emotions in a completely different way though?

Thanks for sharing this - I think it may be something that I may try if I get strong urges.

Soup

[WePow]

My college T had me write instead of cut. It helped me out in the hard part of things. It is interesting you said your T is CBT and thinking of sending you to DBT. Mine is also CBT but talks about DBT.