When self harm isn't enough anymore

[scaredycat84]

I don't get the same relief I used to, I cut more and deeper than I used to, but it only barley takes the edge off nowadays...ive been doing this for almost 25 years suggestions as to coping strategies?...

 

[keitaro]

damn, that is a long time. something i used to do besides cutting, is i would punch myself. mostly just my thighs/legs. i had considered getting a whip to whip myself on the back, cause i saw a guy doing that on the davinci code movie, and it looks cool, but i never did.

 

[self.destractive]

arts and crafts sorta help. it helps to do something with your hands to keep them occupied. kinda like getting over a smoking habit, sorta.
cold water can also kinda, snap ya out of it, in my personal experience at least.

the thing about deeper wounds is that they dont exactly hurt as much for whatever reason. i can accidentally get a papercut in the webbing between my finger and thumb and that will make me squirm and writhe, but if i cut to fat on my wrists/thighs i barely feel it. i dont encourage self injury by any means, but if youre going to do it, you may as well try to go shallower. theres more pain receptors in the top layers of skin anyways. it also will minimize chances of long lasting damage.
the thing ive learned is that the road to self harm recovery always starts with damage control

just please try to avoid replacing cutting with a different self-destructive behavior, things will just get worse. or at least replace it with a self-destructive behavior less damaging than cutting. hope things get better op, im wishing you luck

 

[Adrenalineaddict]

I don't know if this will be helpful to you as I am more of a hitter (I have had bruises and I think multiple concussions) but I have had some success with putting clothes pegs all over my arms (grab bit of skin, peg, repeat) there is quite a painful sensation when you take them off if you put quite a few on. Just be careful as some brands of pegs cause bruising though. I am not a doctor so take this with a grain of salt/at your own risk. I just wanted to leave this here as it has helped me reduce the head hitting and resulting concusions

 

[scaredycat84]

arts and crafts sorta help. it helps to do something with your hands to keep them occupied. kinda like getting over a smoking habit, sorta.
cold water can also kinda, snap ya out of it, in my personal experience at least.

the thing about deeper wounds is that they dont exactly hurt as much for whatever reason. i can accidentally get a papercut in the webbing between my finger and thumb and that will make me squirm and writhe, but if i cut to fat on my wrists/thighs i barely feel it. i dont encourage self injury by any means, but if youre going to do it, you may as well try to go shallower. theres more pain receptors in the top layers of skin anyways. it also will minimize chances of long lasting damage.
the thing ive learned is that the road to self harm recovery always starts with damage control

just please try to avoid replacing cutting with a different self-destructive behavior, things will just get worse. or at least replace it with a self-destructive behavior less damaging than cutting. hope things get better op, im wishing you luck

I make jewelry and canvas art for a living so hands are definitely busy often. Anything involving emotions that are semi intense to intense drive me to distract with pain. But lately it doesn't.do much if anything really