[Browncurtains]

It's been 7 weeks since I started cutting. I used to think I did it for attention. Then I though I did it because I was sad. Now it's a mixture of pleasure, loneliness, and anger, I can't stop. From my finger, to my upper arm, to my stomach, now to my wrists and stomach. It's gotten bad. I just want it to be over. The fact that I enjoy cutting makes me so guilty.

[Blue_Bird]

Do you have any coping skills? Journaling, etc.

[katelyn1019]

Try putting rubber bands where you want to cut (obviously not on your stomach, but on wrists, ankles, finger, upper arm, etc.) and snap those rubber bands every time you feel like cutting. It seriously helps. Or try taking up a hobby/sport that is harmful, but the good kind of pain. Kickboxing, soccer, something where you have to work hard. I've done these and it seriously helps. hang in there

[Browncurtains]

I've tried journaling, exercise, rubber bands, and others. Journaling made me over think my problems as I wrote them, rubberbands helped a bit, but they left really noticeable marks on my wrist. I would try I new sport or something but we can't afford anything right now. But thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to try rubber bands again.

[ifst5]

At the end of the day you're turning to this coping mechanism for a good reason - so there's no use chastising yourself with guilt. The problem with self harm is that it provides only short term relief - so instead of focusing on the shame and repulsion surrounding this activity, focus on it's pure ineffectiveness. I think the more neutrally we look at an issue, the easier it is to find an adequate solution. Self harm is usually symptomatic of something greater - what is it in your life that needs changing? Can you identify what sort of help you might need in order to make said changes?

I think we need to stop looking at self harm like some terrible, purely ominous event from which there's no return. It's merely an indicator that something has gone wrong and that now we need to use it to spur ourselves onto better things. It's not really the act but more the outcome that needs our focus. All the best to you.