Honestly, I feel so insecure about putting this here, so please help. (And pleas!

hey. ive been cutting for about 2 years and i have a huge list of things you can do instead of cutting. i wish u the best. its such a hard thing to stop. if you ever need someone to talk to u can email me. heres my list:
-call a friend
-try not to be alone
-take a hot bath
-listen to music
-go for a walk
-write in a journal
-wear a rubberband around your wrist and snap it when you have the urge to/ think about cutting
-draw red lines on your wrist with washable marker
-hold ice cubes in your hand (this really helped me quit before)
-punch a bed or pillow
-go outside and scream
-scratch/draw a picture on a piece of wood and stab it
-take up a sport (this is really helping me now)
-run/excersize
-work with paint,clay, play-do, etc.
-draw a picture of what/who is making you upset
-go to church
-do chores
-cook
-sew, crosstitch, knit, etc.
-write down possitive things about yourself, why you shouldnt cut (yes this sounds really dumb but hey it could help)
-journal why you want to hurt yourself or if you hurt yourself write what caused it to happen so in the future you dont do it again, or find out your triggers
-write down a word best associated with what you are feeling and keep writing it over and over. sometimes when you do this the word begins to sound silly and puts a smile on your face :)
-sing/make up a song on what you are feeling. express your feelings. shout/screamo if your mad etc. let the words just come to you
-scribble on paper, clutch the pen in your fist
-take the item your cutting with and use it on something else
-make a list of reasons why youre going to stop and everytime you get the urge read the list to remind yourself why you shouldnt
-practice violence on something other than yourself and others
-get rid of anything you use to cut yourself with (this only helps a little bit because ive found that if you want to cut that bad youll find a way)
-get away from home
-burn things. write how you feel on paper and burn it

cutter of 2 years

It becomes and addictive habit after a while. That is why you cannot stop. You like that feeling of "releasing" the emotional pain by causing yourself physical pain. I know what that is like as, I too, am a cutter.

The website I will post below has a list of distracting activities so that you don't cut.

Email me if you want/ need to talk to somebody or need support okcupidgirl@yahoo.com

http://www.recoveryourlife.com/

You aren't a bad person for doing this, but that doesn't mean that this is good. Try telling yourself to abstain from the action for example a day at a time(depends on your condition) or maybe a week if you are ready. Increase the time slowly, so that there is always a slight level of discomfort. Good luck!

try wearing rubber bands, and pull them to hit your skin when ever you feel like hurting yourself, and wear short sleeves shirts and shorts so ppl can see your skin more so u wont want them to see it (if that makes senses its what i wud do)

life

You only do it when you're alone so try spending a lot of time with other people like your family and friends. Also try keeping yourself busy so you don't have time to do it.

First of all, please know that it's an issue that affects a lot of people and it's not something to be embarrassed about.

My therapist thinks of cutting as an addiction, like cigarettes. It's bad for you and you know it is, but you're just drawn to it, right? And the more you do it, the stronger the urge.

But if you keep putting it off; saying "oh, I'll do it tomorrow", time and time again, eventually you lose that NEED to. You'll probably still WANT to at times, but it won't be as strong.

In any case, you should probably get rid of what you use to cut. I know you can self-harm with just about anything, but the fewer resources you have, the less motivated you'll become.

I think of my family members when I'm about to cut. I don't want to let them down; I don't think my mom could handle it, not after raising two mentally ill kids, and my friends would be so upset and think it was their fault. I'd rather talk about my feelings to them than have them fret about a few scabs.

Allowing yourself to say you are insecure. Not only are you insecure you are also a very weak fellow. If you are a man, then you aren't very manly. Dude. I'm judging right now even though I do have a sympathetic side. I don't want you to cut yourself but you do know that you aren't the only one. There are many other people who are insecure. I was insecure one time. I cared about what people think. I didn't want to be judged. Now. I realized something. It stopped me from doing the things that I wanted to do. I didn't feel like I was being me. I was just some Scared individual. And you know what. I'm being judged as a weak individual. Now what sucks more? Being judged for being afraid and being afraid or being judged for being loud when you could have done the things that you wanted to do.

You can't stop because you allow yourself to be so weak minded. There. Another thing I judging. You need to tell yourself to stop. You need to understand that its in everyones nature to judge. If I get thumbs down because I was being too harsh on ya, then people are judging my answer. If you choose a best answer, you are judging the answer. To ask for something "I don't want to be judged..." is just plain stupid.

What you are in my eyes:
Weak minded
Totally insecure
Totally unaware of who you are
Naive

Mean as it is. I'm telling this for your own good. Judge me. I'm a jackass. A d i c k.

Just remember this. 6 Billion People in the world. Its life. You have a certain amount of time living. Might as well f u c k it up.

I went to a stadium once and saw the crowds of people. I couldn't see the faces of the people at the other end of the stadium. I was just one person in a crowd of 1000s. I felt insignificant. People aren't going to notice just one person.

I hate the weak minded because I was one.

Oh my dear! First off, you are not stupid for doing what you do to cope. Truthfully, cutting isn't the best solution for anything, and really, it doesn't help anything. I used to self-harm, mostly cut. It's hard, I know it is. But it is possible to stop.. Listen, I help a lot of people with self-injury.. add this msn - self-harm-help@live.ca ... I want to help you get over this addiction. Or you can send me an e-mail to that same addres and I will reply as soon as I can. I can't promise to have all the answers for you, but I can prmise to be there for you, and listen to you, and give whatever advice I can give you. I can promise to be a friend. I really do what to help you. Remember, you are not alone, but I do want to tell you that you are sooooo brave for posting this question. I want to help you, so let me, add my msn or e-mail me...
God bless you,
Sarah

"Releases the pain"? Cutting yourself really doesn't. It makes you think about other things than your depression, it takes you away from the situation. For me it did, anyway, in the short amount of time I did it.

The easiest way to stop is to always have friends by your side (if you're embarrassed by others seeing you doing it or scars from it, it'll make you want to stop), put rubber bands around your wrists (just snap the runner band on your wrist instead of cutting), and just trying to quit cold turkey. Good luck, and I hope you stop.

Personal experience....

you are not a freak. scars heal. the pain you are feeling, for whatever reasons, will soon just be a memory. now all you have is the future ahead of you. want to know what else makes you feel? putting the blade down and walking away. don't let that man made object make you. you are already on your way by putting this up here. and i know you say it is hard to quit and i believe you so much. i know where your shoes have been. im not promising its going to be better over night, it will take time. but the time taken to fix yourself will give you back the happiness you long for. its been there all along, its just hiding.

go outside and SCREAM at the top of your lungs

you are not too far gone.

start first by getting rid of the tool you use. listening to happier music does help, and when you feel the need to release again pick a sad song. after it is over take a shower or something that will calm your nerves. call up a friend, or a total stranger like here on YA. sometimes they are easier to talk to and definitely not judging. and if you dont want to talk about that talk about something else completely random.
:)
i hope this helps you a little bit, if not at all.
ill be praying for you.

Hey :)

First off, there is hope. Second, I know..I tried it too. People say that it cures internal pain by giving you something physical to deal with. But it doesn't matter what people say. When I was screaming in pain, in depression--crying in my room. I tried and tried to do everything I could to live a happy life, but when reality really comes and sinks in-- you kind of realize how empty life is. At least that was what I felt, however, I found Hope. Even through my endless night of tears, God was their to lift me up in my pain. He gently pulled my face up towards him and I realized that everything was purposeless..but when you have a genuine (personal) relationship with Jesus Christ. Your life changes. :)

I was so desperate for help, and God saved me. And He wants to save you too. It's easy to say, "I'll stop"..but we all go through those moments when we find ourselves doing things out of habit.

So, the solution: God. I want to encourage you to talk to Him--even if you are unsure he is real! He can take it--He is real. And He wants to help you.

Life is so much sweeter. He places a new hope in my heart everyday..and He wants to do it for you too.

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." psalm 119:105

So, what could you do now? Get into a quiet place and just start talking to Him--ask Him anything. I trust He will reveal Himself to you.

Just one day at a time. Don't forget that. :) keep talking to Him--He reveals himself to those who want to know Him.

you probably cant stop cause you've been doing it so long,its
now implanted in your mind that it takes away the depressed
feelings inside,thats why they say when you believe in something
a lot it,you actually think its working,when it really couldnt be..
its your mind playing tricks on you..

when you get sad and think about cutting it,dont do it,fight
the urge,if you keep fighting the urge the habit will
eventually go,do something else your good at,maybe play
a sport,instrument,go on the computar,or listen to music