[Daeva]

Call me Mel.

My main struggle has been depression since I was 14, it's been an on and off struggle. I also have OCD. I never quite hurt myself when I was younger, but now at 23, I've begun to burn myself, my T has told me that when I feel the urge to hurt myself to replace it with something else, like journaling. But I find that hard to do, so I have replaced it with walking, except now I'm walking 5 hours a day and barely eating.

How do I stop?

Hi Mel,

Gosh, all that walking, huh? I am very glad that you are trying to stay focused on your therapy. Perhaps walking a little puppy or dog, asking a friend to join you will help. If you are not focusing on time, you may consider taking along a watch with a built-in alarm system. As far as burning your skin, a nicer and skin-friendly idea would be to take up the craft/hobby or woodburning; you get a nice picture out of this idea, give your artwork out to family and friends, bring out happy smiles to those you love. Please stay safe and use that positive mind inside you during tough times.

Tabby

[musicflows]

I walk a lot, too. It really helps me think and get away from the usual triggers. Stay healthy and don't forget to eat!
Maybe you can find other ways to fill those walking hours. You can make a destination to walk to (the park or something) and then spend your time there journaling or drawing. You can also see what curiosity shops are around your area and go exploring! Or go to the library and discover random facts.
If you have a lot of time on your hands you could see what volunteer work is available in your area and get involved that way. Helping other people is a great way to keep your mind off yourself and any triggers.

The suggestion for wood-burning is great and I totally agree! You could also try the rubber-band snapping, although I've noticed it does leave welts if I do it excessively. There's less overall damage, though.