*****Trigger Warning***** I have been cutting for a little over a year. It started as a once a month type deal, but now I can't go two days without it. it started as just scratching on my stomach, and then I started using bobby pins, safety pins and tweezers. I switched to my arm and now I draw blood and I can't stop scratching my arms so they are constantly open and I'm scared about the height of this problem. Can someone please help...
Hi, I'm sorry your going through this turmoil and I'm here if you need to talk. Have you received any medical help at all?
@Marax002 Yes, I have received medical help- I’m medicated for Panic Disorder and Depression, and have a therapist. They’ve helped to bring my panic attacks down, but the doctors and such seem to be of little assistance to the cutting issue
Hey hun. I'm not going to lecture you to stop hurting yourself, because as someone who used to self-harm, I know it won't be useful, and it might not be what you want to hear right now. But I do want to make sure that at least you are being "safe", in a manner of speaking. If you do harm yourself, check that the tool is clean, and make sure to wash the cuts and/or bandage them to prevent infection. The most noticeable sign of infection is increased pain, swelling, and redness around the cut, or red streaks expanding from the cut. If you're worried about the drawing of blood, or the presence of scars, there are other ways to harm yourself that are not as harmful. One thing I did, and still do occasionally if the urge to cut is too strong, is to put an elastic band around my wrist and snap it. That way, I would still feel the physical pain similar to cutting, which was somewhat of a release, but I wouldn't draw blood and there would be no scarring. I know self-harm is a scary thing, and I know that it can be addicting, and although it may not seem like it now, it will pass - maybe in a few months, maybe in a year - but it will pass. In the meantime, I hope I can help limit the damage, and encourage you to always keep fighting <3
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