[Storyteller.]

Hi Shelby.

Believe it or not, you've already made an important first step in overcoming self harm - reaching out. By making this thread, you've told yourself that you want to get better, and at the same time started to build up a support network: us. The first thing I'm going to tell you is this: you're not alone. You don't have to try and do this by yourself; in fact, I'd recommend against it. There are people in your life who want to, and can, help, and it's perfectly okay to ask for, and receive, their support and advice.

Here's a link to a list of the alternatives Hailey mentioned. They can be useful in beating intense or immediate urges, and I'd definitely encourage you to try implementing them.

Cutting - or any form of self harm, really - can easily become a sort of addiction, which can make it hard to overcome. Notice that I say hard and not impossible. You can get through this. I really believe that, and you should too.

Is there anyone you can talk to about this? Friends? Family members? Counsellors? How you're feeling is important, and you should be able to discuss it with someone who'll be supportive and non-judgmental. If you're still feeling depressed, seeking help for it can be the difference between getting better and feeling low for a long time.

One more thing I'd like to draw attention to: the difference between want and need. You said that you feel like you need self harm. Take a moment and think about wanting versus needing. You need things like water, food, and shelter. You want things like soft pillows and junk food and, as you said, self harm. But those are things you can live without. You can learn to live without self harm. It's a scary concept, but it's possible.

All the best.