[beloiseau]

I'm just wondering what age other people began SI? I cut for the first time in September, and I'm 24 years old...I'm prob not going to stop anytime soon either. My therapist is concerned because it's new for me, but also because i'm not the typical age where behaviors like this start. We're trying to find out why I started, I've got some ideas about what triggered me, but it's something I'll prob never know. Anyone have any ideas or similar situation?

[grey_aj]

I was 14. Partly due to morbid curiosity, partly due to perfectionism, and partly due to all the stuff that was happening at the time.

I agree that people "usually" start in their teen years, probably because teens don't have the most developed reasoning and impulse control, scientifically/ neurologically speaking. However, I strongly believe that self-harm does not discriminate.

- AJ

[SheHulk07]

I cut once when I was about 15, then a few times in college when I was 21. Most of my cutting has happened in the past 2 years and I'm 27.

[junkDNA]

i was 16 when i cut. i rarely do it now. ive recovered frm it mostly

[Samanthagreene]

I was 15 the first time, but the first SI for me wasn't cutting.

19, I just really started a few weeks ago though it's been there for a few months but now it's pretty consistent. The first few times it was to relieve pressure and to help myself cope (which it still does now) because I didn't know how else to and I sure wasn't going to talk to anyone. Now it's function is to help me focus, calm down my mind, relieve pressure and stress, and well it's become an addiction too. I've convinced myself it's helping me from tipping over the edge and if I don't SI then I'm going to completely lose it.

Meh, that's my 2 cents take it or leave it.

[HealingTimes]

I was 12 and it started just after i was placed into Foster care. It went on until i was 19. At 19 i began a 'proper' eating disorder, and that kind of replaced it i think.
I am now in my mid 30s and i only do it occasionally and nowhere near as 'bad' as i used to in my teens.

[crazycat000]

I cut for the first time when I was 13 in the end of 7th grade. I started cutting a lot in the middle of 8th grade, then got myself to stop (though relapsed about once or twice a month). Then my cutting got really bad in 9th grade when i was doing it around 5 times a day, and thats when my parents got help and I have been in DBT and treatment since then. I am in 10th grade now and it turns out I have all the symptoms of BPD and GAD.

[beloiseau]

Originally Posted by Horsegirl72794

19, I just really started a few weeks ago though it's been there for a few months but now it's pretty consistent. The first few times it was to relieve pressure and to help myself cope (which it still does now) because I didn't know how else to and I sure wasn't going to talk to anyone. Now it's function is to help me focus, calm down my mind, relieve pressure and stress, and well it's become an addiction too. I've convinced myself it's helping me from tipping over the edge and if I don't SI then I'm going to completely lose it.

Meh, that's my 2 cents take it or leave it.

It is almost like an addiction, I want to stop but I don't want to at the same time. I feel like the purpose now is to keep me from doing something else to harm myself, it brings me back to the present.

[beloiseau]

Originally Posted by crazycat000

I cut for the first time when I was 13 in the end of 7th grade. I started cutting a lot in the middle of 8th grade, then got myself to stop (though relapsed about once or twice a month). Then my cutting got really bad in 9th grade when i was doing it around 5 times a day, and thats when my parents got help and I have been in DBT and treatment since then. I am in 10th grade now and it turns out I have all the symptoms of BPD and GAD.

That sounds really hard, I am glad you are getting help! I wish you all the best.

Originally Posted by beloiseau

It is almost like an addiction, I want to stop but I don't want to at the same time. I feel like the purpose now is to keep me from doing something else to harm myself, it brings me back to the present.

I feel the exact way! I am talking to my T about it but I feel kind of guilty because I don't really want to stop yet. In T we are problem solving to find things that would serve the same purpose, like rubber band snapping and putting your hand in a pitcher of ice cold water and moving it around. I've only tried the rubber band so far and for me it doesn't really work but maybe it would for you? Idk...

[beloiseau]

Originally Posted by Horsegirl72794

I feel the exact way! I am talking to my T about it but I feel kind of guilty because I don't really want to stop yet. In T we are problem solving to find things that would serve the same purpose, like rubber band snapping and putting your hand in a pitcher of ice cold water and moving it around. I've only tried the rubber band so far and for me it doesn't really work but maybe it would for you? Idk...

Thanks for the suggestions! My T and I work on thinking of things to distract me, but lately things have been so bad I can't even focus on the distracting things. I will try the rubber band snapping, you never know what will work I guess.

Originally Posted by beloiseau

Thanks for the suggestions! My T and I work on thinking of things to distract me, but lately things have been so bad I can't even focus on the distracting things. I will try the rubber band snapping, you never know what will work I guess.

The thing I found out with the rubber band was it worked but the effects don't last very long. I'm gonna try the water pitcher next. He said to fill a water pitcher full of water and ice then put as much of your hand/arm unit as possible then stir your hand around.

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

[beloiseau]

Originally Posted by Horsegirl72794

The thing I found out with the rubber band was it worked but the effects don't last very long. I'm gonna try the water pitcher next. He said to fill a water pitcher full of water and ice then put as much of your hand/arm unit as possible then stir your hand around.

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

I just realized I don't have any rubber bands or hair bands, so maybe I will try the ice water too!

[bronzeowl]

I was eleven or twelve. Don't remember exactly. My mom tells me that that's part of the reason I had to go to a psychiatrist in middle school, though. *shrug*

I first self harmed when I was about 10

I am now trying a self soothing kit I did for myself it does work at times.

[MusicLover79]

I started around 15 yrs old for a couple months and stopped. It started more so when I was 19. and has been going on ever since. But I haven't done it for the past five months.

[Liinu]

I think I was like.. 17 or 18. Then again, I went through a reallyreally dark phase when I was fifteen. Don't remember **** about it. I might have done it then too.

[tealBumblebee]

Well, i've done a little research on it (because I started late too) and I think that you are still in the range of "normal" (it says like 15-25 I think), so I wouldn't say that would concern me. The first time I cut myself, I was in my second year of college, so around 19 or 20 years old. I don't remember why I did it for the first time or what I used, and like you T and I are working on trying to figure out the triggering events - all I know is it was sharp and it left a scar. My T, however, has made no mention of trying to get me to stop - she's only asked if I want to (and was perfectly content when I said not really).

Then a lot of drama started from it and I didn't do it anymore until June of this year (i'm 25). Now I know how to hide it better, care for it, etc. and like you, I don't plan to stop anytime soon. In some ways, I think the fact that we are adults makes us less likely to stop (or to see the need to stop) because we are well able to judge the consequences of our actions and manage and control exposure to negative situations.

I will say though, that I can reflect to times in my past where I engaged in self harm behavior without realizing it (screaming until it hurt, hitting things, pulling hair, trying to suffocate myself in the pillow, and then in college drinking became a whole new level of subconscious self harm) purely out of frustration, anger, apathy, etc.

You're not alone!

[atomicc]

I started when I was in 8th grade, so around 12 or 13. It became heavy around 16, 17. I don't do it much now, but I do still go to it when I have to. I don't deny myself that.

[Freewilled]

I didn't start until I was older either. I was 21.

[beloiseau]

Originally Posted by tealBumblebee

Well, i've done a little research on it (because I started late too) and I think that you are still in the range of "normal" (it says like 15-25 I think), so I wouldn't say that would concern me. The first time I cut myself, I was in my second year of college, so around 19 or 20 years old. I don't remember why I did it for the first time or what I used, and like you T and I are working on trying to figure out the triggering events - all I know is it was sharp and it left a scar. My T, however, has made no mention of trying to get me to stop - she's only asked if I want to (and was perfectly content when I said not really).

Then a lot of drama started from it and I didn't do it anymore until June of this year (i'm 25). Now I know how to hide it better, care for it, etc. and like you, I don't plan to stop anytime soon. In some ways, I think the fact that we are adults makes us less likely to stop (or to see the need to stop) because we are well able to judge the consequences of our actions and manage and control exposure to negative situations.

I will say though, that I can reflect to times in my past where I engaged in self harm behavior without realizing it (screaming until it hurt, hitting things, pulling hair, trying to suffocate myself in the pillow, and then in college drinking became a whole new level of subconscious self harm) purely out of frustration, anger, apathy, etc.

You're not alone!

Thank you for such a nice post! I never thought of some of the other things I have done as self harm, like screaming and drinking. And I agree with the adult being less likely to stop. I know not to go to deep, I know who I can tell and not tell.

I started when I was 14, now 23 still going... I had 11 months before when I stoped when I was 17/18. And then when I started again it just got worse and worse.... The last few months is the worst it's ever been damage wise

First time I was 40+ years old (I am 48 now).

It works for me.

I was pretty little, before I started school, maybe 5 or 6. Maybe earlier. I am always struggled with really bad anxiety and I think I used it to cope with that.