I am a scratcher and a snapper

As the title says, I am a scratcher and a "snapper" (at least that's what I call it - don't know the real term for it.)
I wear and snap rubber/elastic bands on my wrists... I am not a cutter.

I rationalize it by telling myself, "well it's not as bad as cutting. It's not as dangerous since I don't have to
worry about bleeding out or whatnot." And the vast majority of the time, I don't think I need or deserve support.

The rational part of me knows self injury is self injury, but I think another reason I sometimes think scratching and snapping
is not actually self harm is because in the past I heard (or read somewhere... I don't remember) that both can actually be
an alternative for some people - like a way to ween themselves off the addiction of self injury.

That's another reason I think I don't deserve support, because I was an idiot and turned semi-healthy ways of getting
away from self injury into full blown self injury.

Does anyone else do this... or am just a freak???

*I am shutting up now. Don't even know the point of this post.*

Sorry for wasting space, (and your time if you read this).

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Bound by Thoughts))))))))))))))))))))))) You are no freak. I am sorry that you feel you deserve support. You do deserve it. I hope you find some here. Inflicting any pain on your body is SI. Snapping a rubber band on your wrist is not as damaging to your body as cutting but it is still not a positive coping mechanism. Sometimes when things become overwhelming we look for ways to cope. SI is very addicting and I hope that you can find other means rather than get enmeshed in SI. Please take care of you as you deserve it.

BB

I agree with Bbear - you are not a freak and you do always deserve support. I am glad you do no cut. I have for about 5 years and it became addictive. Any way you can learn to treat yourself with respect is good.
Welcome to the forum.
Kiya

No way, you're not a freak, you're not an idiot, you're just another hurt soul finding your way. I send you an arms around hug.

There are many ways I can hurt myself whether they be physical or not. But anytime I can intervene on my first impulse and negotiate toward something healthier, then I've made headway. Not all my decisions are the best ones possible, but I never fail - I just take steps toward better. Sometimes I'm not too pretty at it but I keep making those steps no matter what. You can too.

As BB and Kiya said, you do deserve support. Any way of hurting yourself is SI whether it leaves a scar or not. And snapping a rubber band HURTS!!! Stay strong. Have you looked at the times when you snap the rubber band (and scratch)- is it when you start to have 'undesirable' thoughts come into your head, or do you do it subconsciously? If you can figure out the main times that you are doing it then you can try finding alternative things to do that aren't involving SI...Always easier said than done tho!
And you are right, snapping a rubber band is used by some ppl to stop thoughts/flashbacks etc;- when an unwelcome thought of any kind comes into your head you snap the rubber band to remind yourself to redirect your thoughts.

i brought a list of alternatives to my t... one was the rubber band and the other ice... he looked at me the way t's do and said "lyn anytime you use pain it is si" he returned the list with red x's through anything that used pain as away to escape... i am sorry you are hurting... and you do deserve support... lyn

Your T's aweseome. =) good to see you here - was starting to worry.
yeah, any form of pain used... there's a reason and it needs attention.

Bound By Thoughts: I know that this seems right for you at the time, but there are many other alternatives that you can use to feel the pain, but not in a negative way. I highly suggest that you talk to your therapist about DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and learn some coping skills. Some that I've learned and heard about are: pressing ice on yourself until it burns, run your wrists under excedingly cold water, (the ice eventualy "freezer burns" you, but not with heat), put something in your hands and always play with it (ex: stress ball, silly putty, a small toy, etc), talk about your thoughts, but only at a certain time of day and write about it too, but only let your mind go there for a sceduled about of time- this would be for about 15 minutes. The only thing is is that you cannot hurt yourself during this time, only thoughts (see, touch, feel, think, experience the moment without really doing it (anotherwords: visualize it)). Good luck and best of wishes. PM me anytime you need to or if you have any comments. I really like your personality, but hope that you reflect your thoughts positively.

i am confused... would you help me understand what you mean?

I don't have a therapist, and I use the "ice method" as a form of SI too... but not as often as the others.

Hello, It is all self harm I think. When I was cutting the most my old therapist would try to get me to scratch or pop the rubber band thing. Her basic phil. was do less harm then no harm, like you said get you of the addictive behavior. I haven't cut in two yrs. but I substote with other bad behavior. I squeeze theside of face and scratch. At least won't end up in E.R. Please don't knock your self, to me a little sin is still a sin. We just have hardtime working thru our emotions, because of past. Take care

When I tried stopping I did the rubber band thing. Didn't work to well. But now I am off of cutting But I am in a bad depression, which eventually will cause me to do it again. But I will try not to give in. But anyways. Self Injury is Injuring yourself. either cutting (extreem form of it in my opinion) or something like rubber band. both are still injuring your self.

ok, i do forgive you for writing this long post....does that make you feel better??

it really is ok to ask for what you need. If you need some help/attention just own it and ask. people here will help you and i will help you.

pain is pain is pain is pain is....you do NOT deserve pain. it is not a good way to handle emotional pain by blocking it with pysical pain.

i'm glad i haven't cut in years and yet i just realized i am doing very small things to hurt myself. not feeding myself and way overfeeding myself on candy in place of 2 meals a day... we all need each other. i need you to encourage me and all that takes is being honest. i want to cut but instead i am over-feeding myself and hurting my health and possibly shortening my life.

IT IS NOT JUST YOU, IT IS ALL OF US - SO LET'S HELP EACH OTHER !!!!

LESLIE AND HER PIXIES

((((((((((((hugs to all))))))))))))))

l am not even sure that l should post this but l have decided to each out and say yes l should.The qustion regarding the rubber band:: l would say that any sort of pain must still equate to si. l know from my own experience that l can go a few days with no cutting but during those days l replace with othe rthings that hurt my body and at this time l fool myself into thinking that l am not hurting myself. The pain is still there just a different pain and l too was advised to use rubber bands instead when trying to control flashbacks. the problems came when that no longer worked l moved to cutting which is now becoming as ineffective which scares me as at times l have cut too deep.
sorry l will shut up now lamgoing completely away from the focus.........so l will say too you.....it is self harm......you should get some help with it ..........you deserve to be here and to recieve support and we are all here together struggling with new coping skills so lets all reach out for the support and care we all need

mandyxx

I scratch and pinch. I did not realize it was SI until my therapist pointed it out. Figuring out why I do it has been a very big deal.

I am working on loving my body, exploring the feelings I have been afraid to deal with, and replacing the actions with other things so I stop hurting myself. It may not be as damaging as other forms of SI, but I do not want to do it anymore.

I am glad that someone brought this up. I felt very alone, too. Thanks!!