Can't stop hurting myself

[Soda_Voxel]

I can't stay clean for even a day. Even when I've had a good day, I still want to hurt myself, and when the days are bad I want to hurt myself even more. It's never enough any more. It feels like every few hours I'm wanting to self harm.

[Astro04]

Nono, why you must do that? It's dangerous for you! Think about good things you did and still doing. We need you.

[WhisperingSilence]

Hi, self harm can be a difficult problem to stop doing as it gets addictive.
Have you managed to stop in the past? If you have what have you found helps in the past? Is there anything in particular that is a current trigger?
I find for me that certain things can trigger episodes of self harm, knowing what triggers you is a great start point to stop self harm. Maybe keeping a diary of what you feel like before you self harm may help - you could write your current mood and then maybe try and identify a trigger or write down an event that has made you feel like you need to self harm and then write what the trigger in the event was.
For me I find of if I am somewhere overwhelming that can be a trigger for me.
I often keep a fidget toy with me this is usually something like a tangle, a fidget spinner, a stress ball/squishie/squashie, a fidget cube or a stretchy noodle or a popper/poppet which I find helps keep my hands busy etc the fidget toys also help if I am anxious and help to reduce a trigger that way.

Is there anything you find calming ? A favourite song? A favourite film? Something calming like colouring or arts and crafts ? I often find going out for a walk ( only if it’s safe to do so) and getting out in nature can help me too.

Would keeping an elastic band or hair tie on your wrist that you can twang against yourself when you want to self harm help? As you can still get the sensation of ‘pain’ from twanging a elastic band against your wrist without hurting yourself be useful?

What about trying some grounding techniques like naming 5 things you can see, 5 things you can smell, 5 things you can hear , 5 things you can touch ( preferably not anything sharp) and 5 things you can taste help?


Could you talk to some you trust like a friend, family member ( aunt , uncle etc if you don’t feel comfortable talking to your parents), a dr or mental health professional or anyone else you trust ?

What about having a bath or a shower ?

[Arabesque- golfing girl.]

Hello, I am sorry about what you have been going through and I hope that you will be okay soon. The next time you feel like self harming, try to find something fun to help get your mind off of this for a while. For example, going for a hike or walk or playing a game or talking to someone or watching something funny on YouTube or TV or a movie or try drawing or something else that you enjoy doing and do that for a while. Sending you to help you to feel better soon.