[Celyn]

Sorry you didn't get a reply soon enough!

How did work go?

What you are saying about self-harm does make a lot of sense. I understand that for some, alternatives might not work, and a good way to deal with that is to have a reason or event that you tell yourself you can't self-harm for.

It also makes sense that you'd be tempted to find ways of being able to self-harm that doesn't involve a lot of damage, since you have work. And I can see why that in itself is tempting and conflicting when you care about work. But I do think you are on the right track with trying to change your thinking and anytime you feel the urge, to just keep extending the deadline. I think that's part of the battle in breaking the cycle of self-harm (rather than thinking that you can use a method that is less damaging, when chances are, that may only escalate to more damage in the long run, putting further pressure on you when you care about your work).

I think it might also be helpful to think about all those previous times when you wanted to self-harm but didn't. Starting something new, like work, is bound to cause you some anxiety (as well as excitement!) and with the pressure to do well, I understand that emotions can seem to be difficult to deal with and self-harm can be tempting. But you know you can get through these feelings, without self-harming, even if it means extending deadlines or remembering how much work means to you. You've got through stuff before and you'll do it again, I'm sure