TeenHelp - Triggering (SH): Sleep harm?

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- - Triggering (SH): Sleep harm? (http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f12-self-harm/t141011-sleep-harm/)

Lately I've really relapsed hard and this time around something very strange is happening....when I have a bad day or like I'm just down (sometimes not even just that) and I'm finding no energy to even hurt myself because I feel so drained so I go straight to bed which I thought was good. But lately I'm starting to realize I do it in my sleep? I've been waking up with my arm mutilated but I never remember doing it or I wake up and its bleeding or hurting. I had a friend hide my box of tools so I don't know how this is happening but it's worrying me and I was just wondering if it's actually possible to sleep walk and do that sort of thing?

Hey,

I think it's good that you've been able to get some rest instead of self-harming. Anything positive that keeps you from self-harming is a good thing.

It is definitely possible to self-harm in your sleep. I don't know too much about it but I have done it a few times. The pattern in my own experience was that I was trying not to self-harm during the times I was awake, and then would do it in my sleep. From what I understand, self-harming while asleep is unusual but is not unheard of. There have been cases when people have self-harmed in their sleep (but never struggled with self-harm before) and those cases are the most unusual. However, you already struggle with self-harm so it makes sense for you to be doing it in your sleep.

Are you waking up in your bed, or somewhere else? Do any sharp objects in your house look like they've been moved? Pay close attention to these things. You might want to consider putting anything you'd use as a tool away somewhere.

Are you seeing a counselor or a therapist? This is definitely something worth mentioning to someone you trust.

Thanks! I'm glad it's not unheard of, that makes me feel better. I have been noticing that things in my room move so I've been putting them away so I can't access easily and that helps. I'm not currently because my parents don't know what's going on. Thank you for the response, it helped! :)