self injury

[krebstar]

i'm curious if any of you self injure (or have in the past). several
years ago i cut myself out of anxiety. it was calming. now when i'm
having a pain attack or feeling ill (presumably from nerves) i'll dig
my nails into my other hand, my arm, or my leg. it really helps. any
of you that do this? what other "calming" alternatives do you
suggest? (breathing hasn't much helped.)

[crimgoddess]

Self injury is really common for people who feel that things are beyond their control- this allows them to be in control of an aspect of their lives, and transform mental pain/anxiety into something tangible....(TAd a Women and Justice course last semester- did a unit on self injury and women in prison)


How about instead of actually hurting yourself by doing something non-constructive, you do something that may cause some sort of discomfort but IS constructive? Working out, yoga.....some sort of physical activity that would allow you to get some of your frustration/anxiety out? I know that when I am really pissed or stressed about something, I go for a run, or head to the gym.


*amber*

[purpleteacher]

Yes, history of it and it is a daily battle that I'm proud to say I've come a long way towards winning lately. I don't want to share my story with it in here, but I'm open to chatting one-on-one. I researched it in college as a psychology major, while dealing with it personally myself. I have close friends who also have histories of it and or deal with it daily.

[j0nr0cks]

Yeah the nails digging into the skin thing... been there... every day.


It's like when i get nervous or nauseous or panicky I just dig in. And I agree with the post that said it is an attempt to have some form of control. I think most anxiety stems from a feeling of having no control, whether it be over a situation or even your own body, as in emet.

[haruko]

I cut from time to time, and I also punch myself in the face, but the
most common act is pulling out my own hair. I do it alot when I'm
anxious, and not even thinking about it.

Pain relives the anxiety for me, and so does seeing my own blood.

[emms]

I am a "reformed" cutter. What I do is always carry a rubberband with me and if I feel the urge, I put it around my wrist and snap it. It helps [me] a lot. Another random and slightly ocd thing I do is whatever room I'm in I have to find an object the corresponds with each letter of the alphabet...i.e. a = ankle boots, b = breath mints, etc. It helps me to focus and "escape" like the SI. Good luck!

[purpleteacher]

I am a "reformed" cutter. What I do is always carry a rubberband with me and if I feel the urge, I put it around my wrist and snap it. It helps [me] a lot. Another random and slightly ocd thing I do is whatever room I'm in I have to find an object the corresponds with each letter of the alphabet...i.e. a = ankle boots, b = breath mints, etc. It helps me to focus and "escape" like the SI. Good luck!

The welts hurt and I have broken too many rubber bands and hair ties to count! I have gotten to the point that if I have to use the hair tie around my wrist, I break it (I carry the hair ties because I have waist length hair and ALWAYS find myself without a scrunchie or something when I need it most!).

[suzy.o]

I hit myself all the time, I jab myself with a pen (with the top on) hit myself over the head with the remote control and sometimes pull my face out with my hands. Its frustration, you cant run away from yourself or from the emet symtoms you create in your head so if you feel you have to constantly live with it then you want to attack it physically because you hate it. Yes, its a form of control. Youd laugh if you saw me in a fight with myself. I like crying too, sounds wierd but I can release all the stagnant negatives in my mind for a while.

[junglemonkey]

When I am in a lot of pain (I have chronic pain issues)or very anxious,I get urges to self injure. I try not to, though.


It's almost as though if there was something just for one second that could distract me from the pain (physical or mental), it would be worth it. There have been many occasions where I've thought I was going to be s* and couldn't handle it, and just hurt myself. Horrible, I know.

[purpleteacher]

When I am in a lot of pain (I have chronic pain issues)or very anxious,I get urges to self injure. I try not to, though.


It's almost as though if there was something just for one second that could distract me from the pain (physical or mental), it would be worth it. There have been many occasions where I've thought I was going to be s* and couldn't handle it, and just hurt myself. Horrible, I know.

I have chronic pain issues and I get the same urges. It is so hard because I'm already in pain, yet I know if I induce it on myself - the pain will lessen. Twisted and weird...


Now I do know that certain forms of self-injury induce nausea for me, soI have to be careful not to make myself feel even worse.

[lizzo]

I'm not going to lie, I used to be very self-destructive and ended up one night in the hospital.



(this sounds cliche, but it's true) it's a temporary solution to a long
term problem. Yes, you do experience some release but it really doesn't
help you in the long term. You need to learn different coping methods
that make you feel better. I'm still get urges sometimes when i'm at my
wits end, but i reccomend some good therapy with a counsellor.

[pianolover]

I always pull my hair out, and I have cut myself once when I was really depressed. For me it is not control, it is guilt - I feel like I am so horrible I have to punish myself. But I think I'm getting better - sometimes when I get the urges I will call someone to talk or take a shower or pray or do something else calming.

[ew_vomit]

don't hurt urselves,it's bad