Possible to stop? Ever?

[ellabellax]

Is it possible to stop self harming? I have been doing it for over half my life. Since i was a kid. Ive stopped a few times. But i just keep going back. Its so hard. Makes me think its impossible. Please help! I think at the most, ive made about 6 months.

[Syzygy.]

Hey Ella.

I definitely think that it's possible to recover from self harm. Don't believe me? Have a look at some of these.

Self harm can become addictive, but that doesn't mean you can't get through it. You don't have to go through it alone, though; let the people who care about you help. Do you have someone you can talk to about this? A friend, relative, counsellor?

If you've gone six months without self harm before, that shows you're a strong and determined person, and I know you can beat this.

Also, have a look at these alternatives, which may help.

Take care.

[Kakorrhaphiophobia]

Hey Ella,
I think it's possible to stop self harm, sometimes it's not easy, but it's possible.I think it's great that you made it six months without self harm, that shows that you are able to stop for a long period of time. If you think back to that time, can you figure out what helped you? What were your alternatives and could you try them now to see if they help you? Also looking at the alternatives thread in this forum should be of some help for you, not all of the alternatives will work for you, but some might. If an alternative doesn't work for you, try something else.
i hope I have helped, if you ever need anything, you can PM me and I'll be glad to help.

[kitkat_kate]

Ella. I appreciate your honesty. It's so hard for me to voice those concerns and I have them myself. I believe it's possible to stop, though. I cut for six and a half years and I'm positive I was addicted. Then I quit. Cold turkey. For almost 18 months. Granted, I am back at it again, but I'm going to try to stop again. It's not easy. I will be the first to tell you that.

I admire your honesty and bravery to even try to stop. I know you can get through it. I hope you have someone to chat with regularly about this...a good friend who you can confide in or a shoulder to cry on? That's helped me a lot.

I'll be thinking about you and you know you have my support 110%. Good luck, Ella!

[Evanescent]

I've asked the same question so many times, I've struggled with self-harm everyday of my life for eight years, and I don't know the answer. I've seen other people who have stopped but I don't know if it is possible for me. Going 6 months without self-harming is an awesome achievement. I hope that you are able to stop for good.

[*weepingstar*]

i could have posted this thread myself. ive stopped 3 times. the first for 3 mths. the second. for just over six. and now i'm right at 2. i think its possible, but its one of the hardest things anyone has to do. somedays thats all i think about and theres no way i can stop. others its easier. it IS possible, but it'll kick your butt if you let it

[Commiseration]

Hey Ella.

It is possible to stop the action of self harming. Speaking from personal experience, I self-harmed for around... 6 or more years. My main vice was cutting and I quit cold turkey last year. So why I say it's possible to "stop the action" is because it's one thing to quit doing something and it's another to stop wanting to do it. The urges are still there sometimes and self-harm comes in many forms. The trick is to not only deal with stopping the action but stopping the need as well. Once you realize you don't need it or want it then it becomes a bit easier.

But yes, it is possible. You have to stay strong though because it's a very difficult journey to complete recovery. Sometimes the recovery takes a lot longer than the period of self-harm itself. Keep holding on and you'll make it through. A relapse every now and then is normal, just don't let it drag you back into the addiction. If you need help we'll always be here to support you. You're not going through this alone.

[MisplacedDreamer]

I self-harmed in a shorter time span than you, but I think what helped me to stop was changing my situation in life. I was in an unhappy relationship and I was extremely stressed through school. The last time I SH was about a year ago and before that it was about 6 months.

I changed several factors in my life such as I moved back to my home town, I changed schools, got two cats, found a better boyfriend, and volunteered a lot more. Most of my stress in life came from not liking where I was living, my major, and bad relationships. By changing those factors, I reduced stress and the time I had to myself.

I started in seventh grade once so I would have been about 11 or 12 with long periods between without self harming. Then sophomore year so about 14 or 15 pretty regularly till I was about 19. Then once when I was 20.

It could have been me just outgrowing it, but I really think it was a combination of me throwing myself into my new career path and into school.

[Release9]

I understand your situation. Yes, I used to self-harm.
I think I started when I was 6 or 7, when I didn't understand what I was doing to myself. I just thought I should punish myself for being "bad."
I self-harmed until I turned 10, then started again.
I think I'm too busy to be able to hurt myself, though. But I still do it occasionally.
Maybe you should think about something else if you have an urge to do so.