She Won't Judge

Cutting

Question : For a while I have been dealing with cutting and I want to stop. I don't know how and I would like some advice on how to stop. I know people have been getting suspicious lately and I don't want the attention or drama.

Shelli's Advice : The only advice I could give is what I have been through myself. I started cutting when I was twelve years old and kept at it until I was sixteen. People are very judge mental when it comes to cutters because they think they are failed suicide attempts, when really it's a sense on control when the cutter doesn't have a certain control in their life that they want.

How I personally stopped was by rubber bands. Yes, rubber bands.

I used to get really thick ones and have about two or three on my wrists at a time because some always broke when I snapped them during times of stress. It gives that same slice feeling as cutting, but without the scars and cuts. But it's not like I just moved from one thing to another. The rubberbands where helping me slowly ease out of hurting myself. I tried stress techniques. From the ones that didn't work at all like counting to one from fifty backwards to the ones that did help with the anxiety like walking and listening to music.

Identify what it is that's making you anxious and get it out of your life. It is not worth it. Talk to someone you can trust and if you don't have that then there are tons of numbers and sites that could help, which I'll post at the bottom. Know that you are still young and these need to be the best years of your life. I wish I would have realised that my scars would haunt me for the rest of my life. I don't even look at my left arm at all because it's just scar upon scar, each one uglier than the last. It's the first thing people see and they either get sympathetic or disgusted. Either way, it annoys the shit out of me.

From a former cutter, it does get better. Right now you are discovering yourself and don't know who you are fully. You just need to learn how to not let things affect you the way that they do and that just takes time and patience. Try different anti anxiety techniques as well as you can, but don't be mad if you snap a rubber band. Shit, don't be mad when you cut the first time trying not to do it. It will not happen over night because it has become a habit. Habits die hard and you just have to keep going at it until your brain realises there are other ways to deal with your bad emotions.

SAFE (Self Abuse Finally Ends)

www.selfinjury.com

1-800-DONT CUT

I hope this helps and other readers please let me and the asker know what you think. DO NOT LEAVE HATEFUL OR HURTFUL COMMENTS! I WILL NOT HESITATE TO REPORT YOU! THIS IS TO HELP PEOPLE NOT TO BRING THEM DOWN!