Okay. So I've been pretty torn up the past day or so about this issue. I'll give you all a little background and whatever.

So I was a constant "cutter", for lack of a more appropriate word, about two-ish years ago. It was how I dealt with everything, every single thing. And I could hide it then, but one day I told the counselor at school and she called my parents and this whole ordeal ensured, at least with my father and sister. but then it pretty much stopped, I mean I really didn't have the urge to anymore.

but then I get these triggers. If I see someone with scars, it sets me off. that's pretty much the only trigger, but once triggered, I fall into this rut that I CANNOT get out of until after I cut or something. and this happened again recently.

I saw a movie friday night with my sister and there was just one single scene with someone with slit wrists and it set me off worse than anything ever before. so I broke my razor for shaving and used one of those razors, and I honestly didn't expect it to be so sharp.I scared myself really badly with how much I was bleeding. it wasn't enough to need stitches or anything, I just want advice.

how do you stop? how do you fight the urge? I get extremely ashamed whenever I do it. please, don't judge me. I'm just really scared.

let it be noted, I am not suicidal.

Well I've never been into cutting, but I'm very close to someone who used to. Lately she stumbled across something called The Butterfly Project which is this movement to draw butterflies on the places you cut whenever you have the urge to. The idea is that if you cut or scrub off your butterflies, it "kills" them. And anyone in your life who supports you could draw them on their body too. I do. I mean some people think it's dumb, but it has helped her a lot so maybe it could help you. Sorry if none of this was very helpful. =/ <3

If you're not triggered by written description, you can try reading this. If you are, though, don't bother.

Anyway, basically the tl;dr version of the link up there is that cutting should not be something to be ashamed of. There are many coping strategies out there for you to try, but ultimately it really depends on why you cut. If you cut to feel the actual pain of cutting, you can try snapping an elastic against your wrist or holding a big of ice against your wrist to stimulate the pain sensors sent to your brain. If you cut as more of a distraction or something, like said, drawing on yourself could re-create that. It gets more complicated when you cut to mutilate yourself, to make yourself purposely unattractive (example: so you're not targeted by men to be abused). That's what I do. None of the other methods worked for me because they didn't stimulate/imitate that. What I end up doing is, after I cut, I would take HUGE, huge care into taking care of the wounds. Dabbing away, sterilizing, bandaging if possible. And all the while, trying to pour as much pity and care and nurturing into my actions as I can. It's REALLY helped my self-esteem and has brought a closer connection with myself and my understanding of me. If that makes sense.

Do feel free to ask me any questions that you may have. :) Good luck.

Whenever I was tempted, I drew on myself with a red pen/marker. Another trick is to play a game with yourself. Say, let's wait 15 minutes. When the 15 minutes passed, wait another 15 minutes. And keep setting small time frames until the urge passes.

If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me. Getting yourself to stop cutting is really hard. I know what you're going through.

I don't know what to do about this, but maybe if you get a cutting urge, you can draw the placee you urge is with a marker and keep on drawing like, a knife, or a butterfly...? -_- srry I can't help.

When I struggled with self harm I would try drawing it out and, if that didn't work, I would take one or two Gravol or Nyquil to make me drowsy so I could sleep. The second I don't necessarily advise at this point, because I developed a problem with pills later as a coping mechanism. However, if you can fall asleep easily, I definitely suggest taking naps. Maybe put on something really boring (soothetube.com is great, it has tons of relaxing/boring videos to watch when you're feeling restless), focus on that, and try to fall asleep.

Do whatever you can to distract yourself. I know that is so, so much easier said than done, but try watching silly videos on youtube, or pop on a movie (a happy one! Don't watch movies like the one that triggered you! Watch something like Lady or the Tramp or a comedy, something heart warming). Never be afraid to reach out to someone if you feel that you're on the edge of breaking down. Do something that makes you happy; eat something that makes you happy! Scream really loudly. Go for a run.

Methods I've heard that work since then:

• Try holding ice cubes instead. The cold is a brisk sharp pain with no lasting damage.
• I second the drawing on yourself motion.

Try to avoid triggering content if you can for now. :( I know that's also easier said than done, especially on the goddamn internet where a lot of people are blase about triggering content and how many people it affects, but try not to watch any more movies until you know what kind of content is in them. Avoid places on the internet (tumblr, etc.) that you might find unexpected stories or photos of self harm.

I really wish you the best. If you ever need someone to speak to, my ears are always open.

I don't have advice, but I feel for you. Hang in there, and I hope some of these awesome suggestions will help you out. One thing that would help me is to find someone I could trust who would let me call them at any time that I was struggling and just talk me through it, come to be with me, or otherwise help me to be accountable and to work through it in a more healthy way. Finding someone like that is super hard, and I hope you can find one person in your life who can be that for you. <3

I stopped when I realized how pitiful it made me feel. How when doing it, it never solved anything. I became embarassed of myself for doing it, so I stopped.

Personally whenever I have that urge, I take a pen and just draw all over myself. It's a similar motion I guess and not really harmful

no no, that's not dumb at all. in fact, I think that might be helpful. anything that isn't cutting, honestly. it makes me so sick and disgusted with myself

I'd try to read it, but I'm really feeling like I'm in too shaky of a spot right now :/ maybe another day though, no? and I really doubt it is because I'm trying to mutilate. I'm assuming it's the pain, but I really just think I'll try drawing.

I get really tired when I get like this, so sleeping definately does help. and it is a pretty tough spot, especially because I really love the oddball movies, and a lot of them can be pretty obscure about certains things, and movies can hold practically anything. I do really think I'll try the drawing thing. I really just want to be over this stupid problem more than anything else. I have recently told my three cloest friends, aside from one who really doesn't need to worry about me at this time, and it is extremely helpful.

I am going to try that. I don't care if it peeves my mom or anything at this point, because at least I wouldn't feel so bad and have to come up with all these lame excuses like "I scraped myself" or "the cat scratched me"

I usually draw like on my stomach or side where people won't see it. This sounds awful but like if I'm mad at myself and that's why I have the urge to hurt myself I just write all the mean words I keep thinking about myself in my head on myself, so it kind of gets out the agression and then when I shower I wash it away and that also kinda makes me feel better sometimes. But idk if for you it's like specifically a wrist fixation or just anywhere on your body is okay

it's anywhere and everywhere with me, and generally just anywhere I can hide them.

I never delved into cutting, but I used to get into these self destructive phases where I wouldn't eat, drink, or sleep for a week at a time, and rage would just consume me and I'd have fits where I would break things. This may sound counter-productive, but keep a rubber band around your wrist and pop it when you get the urge, and maybe over time you'll forget about the urge to cut.

I sound like a bumbling idiot, but I hope you get out of your rut. :)

oh my, i thought i was the only one. i haven't self harmed in... about three or four months now, and i'm proud of myself. i started cutting in the seventh grade, and it continued through now, my sophomore year. i would usually cut because of relationship drama, family drama, or just things that would trigger it, like yourself.

now when i get upset, i do not cut. the only reason i don't is because my boyfriend hates it. he doesn't hate it because it's "weird" or "gross" or "creepy" like other people does. he told me these words: "babe, your body is beautiful, why cover them in scars that will remind you of your past?" and it's so true.

to help you with this problem, i would suggest talking to someone about it when you have the urge too; get your mind off of it. even do the rubber band thing. when you wrap a rubber band around your wrist, and snap it.

there's many other things you can do. be strong, i know it's tough, but you'll get through it.