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i'm wondering what sort of steps you have taken to quit self harm?

today i took a huge step...

my best friend adam was really upset and worried bout me cutting...
last night we talked about him taking my blades away...the thought scared me but i cared too much to see him hurt so i told him that i am willing to let him have the blades...that i would do it for him

today we met up and i talked about how upset i was last night...i had a bad anxiety episode...and was really depressed thinking everyone hated me etc. adam told me "next time i want your blade.." thats when i told him i had it with me...n i handed it over n he said he would throw it out...n i told him it was ok...he looked at it for few minutes and finally with hurt and anger he stood up and threw it in the bin...

I'd just like to say well done and good luck, 'cause I know it takes a lot to do that.

It's always good to have people there for you.

I can't guarentee that anything I do is right but these are some of the things I found helpful.

There are two different ways to deal with the cravings really. Substituted coping mechanisms and distractions. Keep a notebook and write down your feelings. Once they're on paper they're sort of detatched and you can analyse and work through them more easily. Sometimes though the stuff that comes tumbling out isn't really analysable stuff, its just feelings. Either way though they're out of you.

A good one to do if there's been something praying on your mind for ages is to write it all down. If it concerns somebody else then write them a letter. Then either burn it or tear it up and throw it away. I like to make mine into origami and then cut them up.

If you just can't work out what you're feeling then try doing some art. Sometimes there are things that words just cant express. There are allsorts of others things you can do if you're feeling like you really can't cope, although these are more short-term crisis methods. Find something to occupy your hands, go tear up newspapers or beat the s**t out of a pillow, have a nice soothing bath. Try and match it to the emotion thats causing you to want to SI. As a last resort, you can draw cuts on yourself in red pen or squeeze ice cubes. I found a nice alternative to drawing cuts on myself was to write what was bothering me on my arms.

Something that my counsellor suggested was to get something either visual or tangible. For instance say you have a bracelet that a really good friend gave you. Keep it with you in your pocket or whatever at all times. When you feel like self harming put it on and don't take it off till you feel better. That's the sort of thing that may have to keep up for a month or two before it starts to work. I never succeeded with that one but apparently its just about retraining your mind.

One of the best things to do is pick up the phone and call somebody. Sometimes its good to talk about how you feel but even just a distraction can be enough to get you through the difficult phase.

The desire will come in waves, the desire might seem unbearable but give it a while and it will pass. You'll feel stronger for it too. If you're really having trouble then try the fifteen minute game. Tell yourself that you don't want to cut right now, that you'll do it in 15 minutes instead. Repeat this process once the fifteen minutes is up.

I'm not going to pretend that its easy but it will get more so with time. You might slip up from time to time but remember that it doesn't mean you've failed. Just try and stop again when you can. SI might feel like a good way to cope but doing it another way is so much less stressful in the longrun.

Good luck.

Ok, My last post was just plain absurd, non-sequiter, and probably not many people like me for saying that. X_x But hey, I'd rather have to touch myself to keep stable than to make myself bleed.

I found drawing on my skin with any ink (i like black.) is very entertaining and mindless while having the SI desire, though, i seem to crave it the most when i'm with peoples. So peoples think i'm weird cuz i like to draw on my skin.

And i show them my tongue biggrin

I'm glad to hear that people are finding ways to kick their "addiction" as i've heard it been called. I have a question though and it doesnt have to be posted here, you can im me or mail me about it. What if you've tried everything you can think of to quit and nothing works? I've tried making deals with close friends, i've tried throwing everything away, i've tried the whole rubber band thing. Nothing i've done seems to work. What should i do?
~Ryan