I think I can finally admit I do need help.

I have been self harming for about four years now, I never thought I needed help, I mean I guess I never really tried to quit, it helped me so I just kept doing it. Lately it has been getting so much worse than what it was then, the cuts get deeper, burns get more intense i guess you could say.. I scratch myself till it actually scars. I need help, I truly have gotten out of control, and now i just cant stop. Just about everyday I get another cut, scar, bruise, burn, anything. I dont want to stop, but then again I do, and I know I need to, I need to real soon, or Ill be dead. How can I stop? No one knows about it, and I need to keep it that way. I just I need to do something before i drive myself to death. Help, please.

ladida, I had some ambivalence about it too--I wanted to quit but I did not know how and part of me still needed the coping mechanism. I had to get into therapy and come up with new (and better) coping mechanisms...fight it and then you can accept it. ...D.

well for one, the first step in to recovery is actually admitting you do it, the second is admitting that you need help - so you have a great head start there! Its good that you seem like you really want to stop.

Why dont you see if you can list the reasons WHY you do it, and see if you can amend them and find a healthier replacement action for each one. for example, if you do it just to simply feel the pain, try the elastic band method for a while. Set yourself these changes one at a time, slowly changing each one, and if you replapse - forgive yourself and try again.

I dont know your MH history, but therapy could be a good help, or if you SI due to bad thoughts your GP might be able to prescribe you something for that.