How I did it: Self-injury is a habit-forming, unhealthy coping mechanism that nearly
destroyed my most precious relationships, my school career, and my life.  Although I'm not certain I will ever be 100% clear of self-harming behaviors, I consider this goal reached because I have not intentionally injured myself in a significant amount of time.  Although it is difficult to explain "how I did it" without giving a substantial amount of background information, I will say that through many agonizing experiences I have resolved this destructive problem--that is, using violence and endorphins to cope with emotions by bruising, cutting, scratching, or burning myself.

Lessons & tips: Each person's way to overcoming self-injury varies depending on their reasons for doing it in the first place.  For me, it was most often one of these:

• a physical release
• a response to overwhelming self-hate
• a transference of emotions into physical pain
• a way of expressing what I could not articulate

In order to stop, I needed to:

• relearn how to release my emotions in non-harmful physical ways, like stretching, praying, crying, running;
• understand and root out my self-hate, then replace it with self-respect (still working on that);
• relearn to express my needs and emotions through talking and writing, before they begin to drown me.

Resources: I had to do this on my own, but I think finding a trustworthy friend, a compassionate therapist, and a spiritual connection would all be helpful.  I wish you all the best in overcoming your self-destruction.

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Sep 04, 2009, 08:00AM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers