How to stop hurting myself

I keep hurting myself last night I punched the wall and kept punching for a few mins. I really hurt my hand. Today it's fine but I am worried I am developing a habit. I use to hurt a lot years ago and have some how managed to just cope with things. Now I am just like blah! I can't cope anymore and I don't know what else to do. My parents and Sister know nothing about it as they wouldn't understand

What is the motivation behind the punching? Is it purely for pain or does the act of punching help release pent up negative energy?

Is there a way you can punch something softer that won't hurt your hand or try temporary vigorous exercise to kind of "get it out" of your system?

Hello Miss Laura: Well... at the risk of stating the obvious... I think the answer here is probably to delve into what is going on with a mental health therapist. Something is driving you to do this. Of course I don't know what that something is. Perhaps you don't either. But the way to figure it out is probably to dig down through the layers of your psyche, over time, with the help of a skilled therapist.

I know I've done this sort of thing as well. I think it tends to be the result of build-ups of anxiety / stress. At some point, one simply can't tolerate it anymore. And so the result is aggression either in the form of hurting someone (yourself or someone else) or something (the wall). Of course, med's can sometimes help & it appears you're on a few. But, at least from my perspective, they mostly just mask the underlying problem. Perhaps in some cases they can even be a part of the cause. I don't know about that one. Perhaps what you're experiencing would be something to talk to your prescribing physician about. I wish you well...

Thanks guys,

I'm not seeing my Psychologist until end of the month or my CPN until April. But I'm seeing my community worker on Wed going to try and talk to her it's hard as we are in the community so no privacy as we meet for lunch in a local shopping centre.

I guess it's a mixture of wanting the pain and I am taking my frustrations out on something rather than hitting myself or hurting myself even more by doing my normal behaviours.

I can understand how it'd be a little uncomfortable discussing something like this while in public.

I've had to learn overtime that most people in public are too caught up in their own world to give much of a damn about what I'm saying (and probably don't hear it).

Regardless, I'm glad you'll get the opportunity to talk about things until you get to see your psychologist and CPN again.

You've probably heard this before but my therapist told me that when I want to hurt myself I could try snapping a rubber band on my wrist for that immediate pain sensation.

I also use the ice cube gripping method from time to time and it helps a little.

Thanks Pastel Kitten.... I need new techniques to remove the feeling of wanting to hurt myself. The ones I use are clearly not effective anymore

I completely relate. I engage in so many positive distractions, yet my urges to hurt myself are severe.

Hang in there.

Exactly I can usually control them but at the moment/recently I have just been more "vulnerable" to hurting myself. I know this isn't good at all but what else will my head let me do?

Hey guys,

So after the whole weekend of masking everything I reluctantly called my CPN and told him about the hurting myself. He asked if I had spoken to my Psychologist which I haven't as its never came up ironically. I just go in and tell her I am fine as I hate disappointing people and I am already disappointed in myself anyways so why bring it up?

Anyways.... I have a quicker appointment to see CPN but it's not for 2 more weeks. I am seeing my Community Worker this week and then Psychologist next week so guess I should mention to them about me and what has been happening

So I spoke to my community worker and her reasoning was I need to prioritise things and learn to say no. I'm overloading myself with too much to do ie college work. IDK.... I hurt myself tonight and I was sitting with friends but I'm feeling really sad and just like IDK anymore... btw I had an anxiety attack in college and had to leave the room. My tutor came out and we spoke I felt a bit better... today isn't my day

Okay I am talking to myself here as I keep hurting myself. I just get all numb inside and then I am like f??? it I need to do something and I hurt myself. I can't tell anyone in the family as they know nothing about the hurting and I can't talk to the professionals as its Friday after 5pm. I am away to volunteering and I really just want to stay in the house and cry. I have been crying less now but that's cause I am so numb inside. I know I should have a handle on this I am a grown woman acting like a child.... I know what I should be doing I am a clever person but I just can't my ways of coping with things are to lash out at myself. I have tried the cold ice thing but that doesn't help at all. Grr!!