Discussion Why give up SH?

[ugulamugula]

Why would you give up SH? It has so many benefits and i don´t see any negatives, so why would you try to quit it if ur already struggling? Pls correct me if you think im wrong, im open minded!

 

[AloneGunManTheory]

I know a girl who SHs and her wound recently got badly infected..that's something to look out for.

 

[meowpuppy]

you have to hide it from your parents, any potential partner will know about it, your mental health treatment could change..

lots and lots of downsides. i'm actually, trying not to hurt myself

 

[sadbh—itstimetogo🤎]

If you genuinely see no negatives in sh, then yeah, why would you stop? I think you answered your own question.

 

[dragonofenvy]

I stopped because I found other ways to cope. I realized it was a means for me to gain control over something and to feel a physical sensation. I purchased these fidget balls and they've helped me a lot. I still feel the urge sometimes but it's and urge that eventually passes. I wish I could give you the silver bullet that would let you stop if that's what you want to do, but I can't. One day I woke up and said "enough is enough." I know it sounds stupid, but I'm serious. That's what made me stop. I think everyone eventually has that same moment but it takes time.

 

[softfur]

running out of space

 

[FullCircle]

Once I wouldn't stop bleeding and I couldn't go to work. I went to urgent care for stitches and they made me go to the psych ER in an ambulance. Almost got locked up but I talked myself out of it. Still had to pay the ambulance bill. Fuck the US healthcare system.

 

[orangecrush]

if you believe that it helps you and have no desire to stop, then there is nothing anyone can say to convince you otherwise.

i am someone who has been struggling with self harm on and off for my whole life. the times that i've stopped weren't because i suddenly decided it was bad for me, but because i lost the motivation to do it. i think eventually you start to realize it's not as important as you think it is, and it will just naturally lose its control over you. the longest period of time that i wasn't cutting (2 years) was not intentional i just naturally kind of tapered off doing it and then looked back and realized how long it had been.
now i've never been successful in quitting and i've never really desired to quit deep down. at this point my damage done to myself is significant enough that even if i did stop, i'm still left with very visible scars that prevent me from EVER looking like a normal person. i wonder if you might be in a similar situation where it feels like it's too late to go back. that's an easy way to feel like there's no point in stopping.

it might feel like there are no negatives but i'm sure you know sh can spiral very very quickly. it's way too easy to accidentally do much more damage than you mean to do. the reason that i've been on my longest break for a while (2 weeks), is because i accidentally went way too far. i'm not going to describe it but it was the worst i'd ever done. it was all a complete accident, and it TERRIFIED me, because i have been doing this for so long and i thought that i had complete control, but that proved to me that i didn't. you will reach a point where you terrify yourself and that might be the thing that stops you. imo better to quit while you're ahead, before you cause irreversible nerve damage to yourself.

and also, this might sound stupid, but i have noticed that i feel my humanity returning a little bit since i've stopped for the time being. when i'm in the middle of a bad streak i tend to feel less human and less able to relate to the people around me. it's like i automatically disconnect from people and myself to make it easier to harm myself. i know that i'm probably going to relapse again, but i have noticed some things get better. i've felt the color return to my life a little bit, not a lot, but enough to feel nice. i feel a little bit more comfortable interacting with people that usual, i feel less like i'm watching from the outside. it's probably just temporary, but... i feel a little more motivated to keep pushing forward.

ik this isn't the recovery side of the forum so i'm sure you're not looking to quit but all i can say is be cautious and safe. take care of yourself. even in these dark moments you can perform aftercare and that's the most important part. i think it brings back your humanity a little bit.

 

[EDDIESTERS]

if youre not willing to try and give up sh, you just never will. if youre looking for a reason to stop, then youll get there eventually, but if youre not and dont plan on stopping, theres no point in asking.