[pooh_ac]

Is it not amazing how many ppl are affected by this nasty part of depression? So far my "accidents" still look like accidents, but how long I can keep that up is unknown. I would like to stop but it seems I cannot. I am currently harboring several injuries but they are getting harder and harder to hide.....
Am living med free and doc free, not by choice but b/c I live so far from any docs and have litterally tried all the meds but a very old group the local general docs are unwilling to experiment with..... sux dont it?

I cannot believe all the posts here that mirror my own feelings and actions, I know that is said many times but it is almost frightening how close you posts are to my life in "the real world"
Anyway thanks for all the posts I am trying to learn from you all how to stop.

"Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you."

Carl Gustav Jung

[PlanningtoLive]

hi Pooh,

I can tell you that I have stopped having "accidents" - when I thought I never would be able to stop. My way is not the correct method though.

You need to find out what is triggering the feelings and making you want to do it, then try and work your way through it. It isn't easy, but at least you will be doing the way you are supposed to.

Even with meds, I was still doing it, and while seeing a T on top of it.

I hope you are able to figure out the reason behind the urge.

Take care.

Mary Alice

[xan2004]

I agree with having to find the underlying cause and like planningtoexist said it isn't easy i still do it but not as much, apparently you can draw lines with red felt tip pens which is what thay taught me in therapy but i never tried it also punching cushions could help but a punch bag would be better let all the feelings out on that, it works but isn't a cure.
hope you get through this.

[elmarko]

i think stopping yourself from having 'accidents' is a lot like quotting smoking or getting rid of a bad drug habit, cos in the same way as these, you are addicted to it. i have been trying for the past 18 months to stop, without any joy. i think that a big part in stopping is wanting to, if theres a part of you doesnt want to stop, then you will find it veery difficult to. like the others said tho, if you can find the underlying cause and put that right, ,it would be a lot easier. there are many alternatives i have had suggested to me, drawing with a red pen, scribbling on paper, unching things (not walls or owt hard tho), snapping an elastic band around my wrist i wind helps, ,its harmless but seems to do the trick to a point anyway. anyhow hope this helps.

Marko

[Zenobia]

Snapping rubber bands on my wrist did help me some. It hurts like the dickens and leaves a nasty welt that will stay there for about 30 minutes.

I agree with the addiction thing. When I was quiting smoking the thing I had to figure out was what to do to fill in the time that I was smoking. Smoking was what I did to calm myself down, to take 5 from life. When I tried to quit I didn't have those 5 minute vacations. I discovered that if I brought a book to work and took my "smoke break" but read instead I was able to quit. Now I don't even think of smoking and take five when I get that "I need a break" feeling. I think the same is true for SI. I am trying to discover what I get from it, and then I try to find another way to get the same thing. I have not injured myself since dec 4th so I think I am starting to have some success.
Carrie<font color=blue>

To whom do I owe the biggest apology? No one's been crueler then I've been to me.
I am sorry to myself, my apologies begin here before everybody else.
I am sorry to myself, for treating me worse then I would anybody else. --Alanis Moresette