Hi anon,
I'm glad that you are open to receiving psychological help for self-injury. There are many types of psychologists, psychiatrists...each with a different "approach". It is important to "shop around" and find someone that you trust and who's practice you receive well. You may not always like your therapist, but they are there to ask the difficult questions and are not necessarily there to be "liked"! If you need any help deciding on which therapist is right for you, we can help provide information for you!
In the meantime, it is difficult for any of us to suggest what you can do to stop your behavior of self-injury. As mentioned in above posts, it really depends on why you are doing it...which is where the therapist comes in.
Do you know why you self-mutilate? It usually is a form of a coping strategy (instead of coping with painful emotions, for example). Do you have examples in your life of when you are coping in positive and healthy ways? If so, I would suggest writing those down and try to turn to those methods when you feel the need to self-injure.
However, I realize this is easier "said than done", because I'm wondering if you are aware of when you are about to self-injure and if you feel like this is more of an impulsive, uncontrollable behavior? If you do feel this way, then my providing you a list of "ways to cope" may not be helpful. A therapist can help you create a sense of control and awareness to your self-mutilation, as well as other ways to cope with and express your emotions.
Are you able to temporarily replace your cutting and other self-mutilation behavior with something else (until you see a therapist?). There is a laundry list of ideas, depending on what you need & what your personality is. When you feel the urge to self-mutilate, can you: go run, cut a pillow, talk to a friend, scream, write, get out of the house, go swim... so many ideas, and I'm not sure if any of them are resonating with you or just silly! Let us know what coping strategies you've tried in the past (even if you were just mildly stressed out...what did you do that helped?)
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Hi anon,
I'm glad that you are open to receiving psychological help for self-injury. There are many types of psychologists, psychiatrists...each with a different "approach". It is important to "shop around" and find someone that you trust and who's practice you receive well. You may not always like your therapist, but they are there to ask the difficult questions and are not necessarily there to be "liked"! If you need any help deciding on which therapist is right for you, we can help provide information for you!
In the meantime, it is difficult for any of us to suggest what you can do to stop your behavior of self-injury. As mentioned in above posts, it really depends on why you are doing it...which is where the therapist comes in.
Do you know why you self-mutilate? It usually is a form of a coping strategy (instead of coping with painful emotions, for example). Do you have examples in your life of when you are coping in positive and healthy ways? If so, I would suggest writing those down and try to turn to those methods when you feel the need to self-injure.
However, I realize this is easier "said than done", because I'm wondering if you are aware of when you are about to self-injure and if you feel like this is more of an impulsive, uncontrollable behavior? If you do feel this way, then my providing you a list of "ways to cope" may not be helpful. A therapist can help you create a sense of control and awareness to your self-mutilation, as well as other ways to cope with and express your emotions.
Are you able to temporarily replace your cutting and other self-mutilation behavior with something else (until you see a therapist?). There is a laundry list of ideas, depending on what you need & what your personality is. When you feel the urge to self-mutilate, can you: go run, cut a pillow, talk to a friend, scream, write, get out of the house, go swim... so many ideas, and I'm not sure if any of them are resonating with you or just silly! Let us know what coping strategies you've tried in the past (even if you were just mildly stressed out...what did you do that helped?)
February 8, 2009 - 2:26pmThis Comment
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