Adult Self Harmers

[LivingDeadGirl]

This is something I've struggled with for 20 plus years. Anyone else? Feel like I'm a freak for doing what I do in my 30's.

 

[justpeachy]

I hadn't done it in a very long time (i'm in my early 30s) and recently started again in the last 5 months. A lot of turmoil in my marriage, relapse on drugs (new drug of choice this time though, amphetamines vs opiates) and when I can't deal with my anger or sadness I'll cut my thighs. I was doing my arms for awhile but then I moved somewhere where it's 110 degrees in summer and even now it's 90 still so I would die in long sleeves so I switched to thighs and stomach. My husband hates it and I've scarred my thighs and arms up pretty bad and I am deeply ashamed of it.

 

[Nurse T]

I self harm and I'm 37, it all started 5 years ago, I have very bad scars in the corner of my elbows as I'm a nurse and was going for brachial artery, had to have blood transfusions a couple of times. Now Iv moved to my lower abdomen, no one is a freak at any age I'm doing it, it's very personal and a coping strategy just try to do it safely. I went a year without doing it and relapsed a couple months ago when the thoughts of CTB returned it has bought me time.

 

[make_00]

I just turned 25, also just lost sensation on my upper arm from cutting down to my tendon and severing nerves on the 6th

 

[Deleted member 19654]

Self harm is a terrible habit but it doesn't make you a freak. It's a tough habit to break. Started when I was about 12 and I thought I managed to give it up because I stayed clean for several years. I'm now mid 20s and I recently caved and started again. I'm not exactly proud of it.

 

[Soulless Angel]

I do on and off, late 30's. but my blades are too blunt, my arms are covered in scars, I have no shame in them, its part of the journey I have walked.

 

[BPD Barbie]

I'm 30 and have been self harming since my early teens. It's the only way I know how to cope with feelings now. You're not a freak at all, many people here understand how you feel.

 

[catscradle]

26, I've been doing it on and off for years.

 

[LivingDeadGirl]

In a strange way its comforting to know im not alone. Its sad that this is how so many of us cope but i guess its just what we know. Media and society discuss teens who SI but never adults. Always made me feel like I was even crazier for having a "childs problem" in my 30s.

 

[JustLosingMyself]

Late forties, doing it on and off for 30+ years

 

[not4us]

Men also self harm? Or is it only women thing?

 

[blackdogs]

I'm 25 and have just recently started again. I'm lucky the weather is cooling down for my long sleeve shirts and jackets. You aren't a freak for doing it this shit is hard to kick

 

[Life_and_Death]

Men also self harm? Or is it only women thing?

Men do it too. Much like depression it doesn't really care about much.

 

[specklenought]

I started when I was was 7? got caught at 10, stopped for a bit then started again in my teens but was very obvious (the whole big collection of bracelets sort of vibe) then stopped after parental intervention at around 17. I recently started again a year ago, but I feel like age has made it worse because its so hidden now. It's exhausting. I think as a teen I didn't care if people saw because it was effectively a way to signal to people I was in distress. It still kind of is. Now I'm so terrified of being perceived as attention-seeking or overreacting that I hide it to the point that no one knows. It's like a push & pull you cannot win. But its the oldest strategy I have to handle pain so its hard to rewire yourself to alternatives.