[MASIMO]

I have been in therapy for 7 years. 3-4 years ago, I started to SI but never cutting at first.
It wasn't until my therapist warned me to stay away from sharp objects that I started to think about it. I was horrified before to think of doing that. then, the curiousity got to me. Why do people cut, what relief does it bring them. Unfortunately, I proceeded to find out. Now I do it occasionally.

I feel like if my Therapist hadn't mentioned it way back when, I wouldn't have gone down this road. Can therapy be dangerous, influencing someone to do something destructive?
I hate to think of it like this. Therapy is difficult, but should ultimately serve to protect you. I would never bring this up to my T, I wouldn't want him to feel bad about it.
He was only trying to help.

[reesecups]

I had been cutting for years. And once a nurse mentioned 'Hmm, no hashmarks' it gave me the idea to consider it. Now it's the way I do it. If she hadn't mentioned it, I may have never thought of it, at least for a while, I may not have done it. I don't blame her, but wonder why she said something like that.

[The_little_didgee]

I had to reply to this.

I believe people can learn self harming from therapists, and other clients in treatment programs and psychiatric inpatient units. When you put people together with similar issues they can teach each other how to self injure. I have seen it and the competition between patients. The behaviors are usually reinforced by other clients and medical staff, which may lead to addiction. Even the harmless questions asked by a therapist about self injury can give a client who has never self injured before some ideas.

Some people don't do well in group homes, psychiatric wards and partial hospitalization programs. Sometimes they end up walking out with a lot more problems. There should be pre-admission screening to identify vulnerable, sensitive and impressionable individuals.

Therapy isn't always pleasant. It can be challenging and depressing at times but it should never teach you self injury.

[smmath]

I think that there is always risk of learning bad coping methods and things to "try", but it is important to weigh the risk to the benefits. If you weren't in therapy, you might never have started cutting, but you wouldn't have the support that you have now. I think it would be good to bring this issue up with your T. Maybe not exactly what you posted here. I would bring up something like " I have an issue with wanting to try harmful things that other people do, and I need help to stop myself from trying what they are doing. Like to protect myself from potentially harmful things I have heard that others do." or something to that effect, but makes more sense :-) I make no sense A LOT of the time, sorry.

I wish you luck.

[reesecups]

One time, my outside T triggered me. The impulse to cut was excruciating. I spent three days nearly fighting the impulse to cut, because she was the only one I could talk to about it and I didn't want to make her feel bad if I told her I cut because she did something that triggered me. I'm glad I didn't. I had to take a few deep breaths and as terrified to tell her about it. But she was calm. Asked a lot of questions and in the end said she would have to be more aware. I stumbled and stuttered and told her that this was my issue and it was my fault I couldn't handle it. She said no, it was both our jobs to work through it and she was glad to know so that she could make sure I was okay and said she took part of the responsibility.

Wow! I really like and trust her.

[beloiseau]

In nursing school, I was told during my psychiatric rotation (for example), that you must ask patients about thoughts of suicide to assess their risk, and by doing so, you are not implanting the idea into their minds. You are not 'giving them any ideas'. I kind of think of self-harm in the same way sometimes. I had never really thought about it, until I read of BPD and related to the diagnosis so much. I, like you, thought about SI as an option after finding out about it because if it helps other people, maybe it can help me. I think it would have probably happened eventually though, although I have no way of knowing that, and am thus constantly concerned that I put the idea in my head by relating to the BPD diagnosis.

[reesecups]

Originally Posted by beloiseau

In nursing school, I was told during my psychiatric rotation (for example), that you must ask patients about thoughts of suicide to assess their risk, and by doing so, you are not implanting the idea into their minds. You are not 'giving them any ideas'. I kind of think of self-harm in the same way sometimes. I had never really thought about it, until I read of BPD and related to the diagnosis so much. I, like you, thought about SI as an option after finding out about it because if it helps other people, maybe it can help me. I think it would have probably happened eventually though, although I have no way of knowing that, and am thus constantly concerned that I put the idea in my head by relating to the BPD diagnosis.

I think I understand where you are coming from. I agree, no one ever put the idea of suicide in my head. But MH professionals, whether intentionally or not, gave me the 'screw you' attitude that made me overdose or cut. I can't say they put the thought in my head, but I can say, their actions made me romwhat at that time, I felt,were my only real alternatives.

I think I got the idea of cutting when I was about 15? And my sister was hospitalized for taking too much aspirin in a suicide attempt. There were slight hesitation scratches on her wrists and for some reason, that, I think, gave me the impulse. Don't know if I'm right or if it makes sense. But I've always assumed that was the reason.

[beloiseau]

Originally Posted by reesecups

I think I understand where you are coming from. I agree, no one ever put the idea of suicide in my head. But MH professionals, whether intentionally or not, gave me the 'screw you' attitude that made me overdose or cut. I can't say they put the thought in my head, but I can say, their actions made me romwhat at that time, I felt,were my only real alternatives.


I think I got the idea of cutting when I was about 15? And my sister was hospitalized for taking too much aspirin in a suicide attempt. There were slight hesitation scratches on her wrists and for some reason, that, I think, gave me the impulse. Don't know if I'm right or if it makes sense. But I've always assumed that was the reason.

I think there are definitely things that influence us. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with healthcare workers. Their behavior can surely exacerbate a situation sometimes.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[reesecups]

Thanks. Unfortunately, my shrink triggered me a few weeks ago. The first time since July with his crappy,,nasty attitude. I SI'd but didn't say anything, but now he knows. I hate the PHP I'm in except for the therps (99%) of them and some good clients there I like!