I have become hurtful to myself over the past several years..I engaged in things that I could have very easily been hurt in as well as what I call "Poking" (Needles)...I would like some suggestions as to how to deal with such, be more aware of what I'm doing, and how to cut down, and quit one day...Thanks for your time...

[Rapunzel]

You have to work on awareness of and dealing with the feelings that make you want to hurt yourself. We don't do this for no reason. For most people, it takes professional help to work through that stuff. SI is just a sign that you have something that you aren't dealing with effectively. Is there anyone you can talk to about getting into therapy?

I know this is a wee bit off topic, but, I just want to thank everyone once again for the support. I have been a member for less than 12hrs to this website and have been told twice to go get therapy. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing anyone, If anything, I appreciate the honesty...Not that I could afford therapy..but, in your opinions, am I really in need of it? I seem to be surviving this long. I was always taught that EVERYONE will cross me sooner or later. Always be defensive and surviving is fine...Sorry for kind of digressing here...

[Rapunzel]

You're fine questioning why people have suggested therapy for you. That's a good question, actually, and I would want to understand it too. I suggested it because from your post in this thread it sounds like you are dealing with underlying emotions in a physical way. In my experience, we don't do that without having something pretty powerful to motivate us to need to avoid dealing with those feelings directly. If being defensive and surviving is fine for you, then that's okay. But you came here and asked how to change what you are doing. That tells me that you would like things to be different. There doesn't have to be anything drastically wrong with you in order to benefit from therapy or counseling, either. It's just been my experience that if you're covering up something big enough that it takes hurting yourself or taking risks to deal with it, then most likely you would benefit from some professional support when you get down to what it is. Otherwise maybe you'll stop one destructive coping mechanism and replace it with another one, like I do.

Best wishes for you to find what is right for you! I hope that you stay around. You seem like an intelligent person with good ideas who thinks for yourself. I like that.

Rap

Thanks for the affirmation. I Kind of needed that right now. My self destructive behaviors aren't nessecarily replacing one for another...I just take huge risks...I feel like I want to be hurt...It might be a replacement for poking...I havemn't done it in awhile...

[Soidhonia]

Hello I hope you are doing well at this time. Behavior therapy is very helpful to help retrain people in dealing with impulsive and compulsive behaviors, and most states have low cost mental halth services for people that can not afford mental health treatment. I will leave you my email address if you need more informaiton on finding a theraopist in your area email anytime neohiodbsa@yahoo.com, all informaiton that goes to this email address is strictly confidential. Take care Sincerely Soidhonia