Cutting & Self Mutilation Recovery

[qwwrlpnb]

So three years ago, after I stopped self-harming, I was told to snap a hair tie on my wrist whenever I felt the urge.  But now I feel like I am getting addicted to snapping like I was to cutting, like I do it repeatedly until my entire arm is covered with red marks.  Is this healthy?

[alegnatm]

I used to use this method to help keep me from cutting. You can't use it to replace the cutting because that just defeats the purpose. I am sure its not that great for you and after a while if you are doing it all over your arms you will probably start doing damage to the nerves.

[flamingoccm]

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qwwrlpnb wrote:

So three years ago, after I stopped self-harming, I was told to snap a hair tie on my wrist whenever I felt the urge.  But now I feel like I am getting addicted to snapping like I was to cutting, like I do it repeatedly until my entire arm is covered with red marks.  Is this healthy?

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Does it sound healthy? No.

You didn't stop self-harming. You just changed how you hurt yourself. 

[Pjmsh2023]

Not sure if you ment it to be like this, but that came across a little harsh... obviously she's struggling, dont make her feel stupid or bad about herself. shes trying.

[flamingoccm]

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Pjmsh2023 wrote:

Not sure if you ment it to be like this, but that came across a little harsh... obviously she's struggling, dont make her feel stupid or bad about herself. shes trying.

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She asked a question, and I answered it. You're calling it harsh...it's really just the simple truth. What she is doing is not healthy. She did not stop hurting herself. She may have stopped cutting herself three years ago, but she hasn't stopped hurting herself. There are healthy ways to cope, and this isn't it.

I've been there. I know it's hard. I don't see how answering her question is supposed to make her feel stupid or bad about herself. Sugar coating reality isn't going to improve her health.

[Gothic-Angel]

I don't know if this will sounds silly but I was thinking when you feel like using the hair tie how about going for a walk and leaving the hair tie at home, kind of like how if someone wanted to cut they'd try to keep away from anything sharp and would try to find a way to keep distracted, i hope this makes sense.