You Are Not Alone

Light at the end...
From someone who self-injured for years I can say that you can overcome this. I haven't cut in about 1.5 years now and I can honestly say it feels great. I struggled at times, but I think that's a part of the process. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to work to get there...but trust me, it is so worth it. I'm glad I stopped...so glad!
Trust...
"Tell someone you can trust, someone who won’t laugh at you; tell your teacher or a counselor. I know it seems like they are oblivious to what we go through but there’s a really good chance they will understand (they may have gone through similar stuff when they were younger). Let your heart reach out and you’ll find peace."
YOU will get through this...
"Self-injury is not worth it. You are. Hang in there. Believe in yourself. You are strong, beautiful and YOU will get through this.You can and will get through this."
Tell Someone
Tell someone you can trust, someone who won’t laugh at you; tell your teacher or a counsellor. I know it seems like they are oblivious to what we go through but there’s a really good chance they will understand (they may have gone through similar stuff when they were younger). Let your heart reach out and you’ll find peace.
Keep Fighting
"Like everyone says, self-injury urges are part of recovery. I haven’t cut in 10 months. I still get urges from time to time but the time between them gets longer. It gets better if that makes sense. Keep fighting everyone, you’re doing well!" ☺
Do it for you
Take all of the energy that was going into SI and put it into something else, something that you can put your whole self into. It doesn’t have to be just one thing; I’ve written poetry, beaded necklaces, and gotten lost in books. Whatever it is, do it just for you and nobody else, I mean, if other people like it, that’s great, but it has to be about you.
Talk to someone
Going to see my school counselor sounded like a really scary thing, but it was so helpful for me. Don’t be worried about other students’ stigma or that teachers will find out and your grades will be affected, if anything, talking to my counselor helped my grades because it helped my depression. If you really don’t want to see someone at school, you can talk to your doctor and they can refer you to independent counseling. Learning to open up to trusting people helped make my feelings lift.
I feel safe...
I really feel safe in here with people that feel the way i do:))
Opening up
Opening up can be really scary sometimes...trust me! But honestly, it can do you the WORLD of good... even if it's just to have a bit of a rant about something that seems so silly or insignificant. It releases a whole world of emotions, and ultimately makes u feel better inside. None of us on here will judge you for the way you feel, so if you feel the need to or urge to cut, please talk to someone. I dont know if any of this will help but just hang in there!!!
Never Give Up!
...try and get out and do things you like...use up time and hopefully take your mind off self harm, even if only for a little while. Remember, self harm is never the answer. Take care every1 -- oh and I don't think you're crazy either but I often thing I am so I know how it feels. Oh and also, if you want help it's out there, sometimes it can take a bit of looking around to find but don't give up....never give up!!!!!
Ur not alone!!
I think I understand what ur going through. Ur NOT alone. Ur NOT crazy, many ppl feel like this. I think talking 2 someone is a good way to start and u should try and go out and do activities u like to do...maybe even try something new. I can't say I know the answer, I'm taking an anti-deppresant too, but never give up and always keep trying. whenever u want to cut urself - STOP by saying that the pain won't get rid of the problem and instead try distracting urself with something else-a sport, music, calling a friend, running, etc.

I dont know if any of this will help but just hang in there.
Getting through the urge
This sounds kinda silly but a new technique that I seem to have adopted when trying to fight the urge to self-harm, is to just consciously tell my brain how silly and un-safe it is. I'm so using it now, that it's almost like 2nd nature to automatically just think in my brain that that is what I'm going to do...but if I take a just a second to slow down and just tell myself that it's un-safe, then it gives me time to calm myself and tell myself that it will be ok...that I will be ok... and that I can get through the urge.
What I say to self-injury
You were a such a very big obstacle in my life...I relied on you to take my pain away...but now.... I have over come the obstacle...I recovered... & now i no longer need you.
Stopping self-injury
you will be able to stop, it just takes time. you don't learn to ride a bike the first time you try right... eventually you'll be able to bike for miles and miles without so much as a wobble, but at the start, you fall over lots. its the same sorta thing with stopping harming
Suggestions...
Sometimes writing things out on paper can help to get the feelings out. Try doing that instead of self-injuring if you can. OR, try talking to someone you trust...i would suggest someone in person or on the phone if you can! It helped me! Good luck, hand in there :)
Never give up!
Altho it can feel like ur all alone, ur not. I used to think that all the time but I was wrong. I also know u can beat this. It's not ez but u can definatly do it! Just keep going...keep trying...never stop...never give up!!!!
U can cope
It may not seem like it, but there are ways to cope and not give in with the urge! I'm not sayin' it's easy but u can do it! Do anything else...draw, paint, blast some music, call a friend, go for a run, jump up and down, do anythng...u can do it...trust me, u can overcome this!
You can be free of SI!
I used to think I would always SI...that I couldnt stop it. I was wrong. So wrong. It starts with telling someone u can trust...and then it takes a lot of work, but from someone who went thru this, I can say its worth it...u can get over this...u can recover...u can be free! Hang in there...u can do it!
Exercise helped me!
So, I know we all have our own things that help us but for me I found that exercise helped. Whenever I had an urge I just got up and did something...pushups, sit ups, running..I even used my stairs lol...just moving around helped...I now run a few times a week and find it really helps my mood. Just thought Id share...maybe it will help...just remeber u can stop!
Never alone
So it may seem like ur all alone in this fight but ur not! Call a friend, text a friend, go talk to your family, talk to a psychologist, talk to anyone at all...u are never alone....NEVER.
Life after SI
I used to think I couldnt stop that I'd always SI. With the help of a good friend and my counsellor I learned I could overcome SI. It wasnt easy...trust me...it was really tough at times and I had times when I'd do it again...but thats normal. Everyone has setbacks. But you can do it. You can beat this. WE can all beat this...best wishes to u all! xo
Moving on...
Self-injury will not define me. What I do from now on about self-injury will define me.
Keep fighting!
It's tough but it's also worth it. You can stop self injuring. Just keep saying to yourself: Keep fighting. Keep fighting. Keep fighting...
Writing...
I've started to keep a journal to write down how I feel. It's soooooo helpful to just get it out. Whenever I feel sad or when I think about burning agin, I just write and write...after a bit of time I don't want to do it anymore...just thought Id share. xoxox
Remeber when you didn't cut
So, my counsellor and I decided to write down the times I wanted to cut but didn't. I couldn't believe it. There were actually times when I felt urges but didn't give in. Sometimes urges are so powerful but knowing that I don't always give in gives me hope...I hope it does for you too! Good luck guys! I think we can do this!!!!
Getting there...day by day
I've been SI free for about 3 months. I'd be lying to you if it has been an easy road (and trust me there have been some setbacks!) but day by day I'm getting there... :)
u can beat this...
just wanted 2 say that i think u can beat this...i stopped about a year ago and remember thinking id never stop...thx 4 listening xo
New beginning...
Dear self-injury,

We were once so close but now we're thru. It has taken so much courage to say this but:

It's over between us.

This is our end...and my NEW beginning!
urges can pass
I've been getting treatment for a while now and I can honestly say that although urges can come on pretty strong they dont last forever. eventually they pass. and when they do you realize you dont have to give in each time they come back.
Keep a safety box
i keep a little safety box in my room with a bunch of things I do can when I get an urge. Mine has pencils, crayons, paper, music, pens, a list of friends phone numbers, a stress ball, lotion, glue, glitter, and a ton of other crafts. Doing crafts really helps me a ton, so does drawing or writing. I think anyone could make their own box with their own stuff...you just have to find what works for you...but give it a try. It really helps me and gives me hope I will break this cycle.
Talking helps
OK so I its real tuff to tell ppl about ur si but it can actually help. I used to think no1 would get it...so I kept it a big secret..no one knew. I mean I wanted to tell ppl but was sooo scared. I eventually said "just do it!" And I did. You know what? It helped...and now I feel I have the support to beat this and stop si'ing so much.
break the silence
Tell someone. You are not alone. Break the silence....it's hard but you can do it. And, it can help to not do it alone!
I remember
I remember what it was like, what it was like to self-harm. I remember what it was like to feel all alone. I remember what it was like to hate myself. I remember how said it was.

I remember it but I won't ever go back. You can stop self-harm. You can stop and move on. Believe you can. I believe you can.
I find yoga helps...
I found that yoga helps. I go to yoga a few times a week and each time I feel so much calmer. It's weird because I think it makes me feel better overall so I don't have as many urges :)
Think ahead...
Growing up I was a cutter but back then there was no name for it...I needed to cut to help me deal with the emotional pain that I could not handle. The physical pain was so much easier. I did it on and off for years and what made me stop was my children. When I got pregnant, the thought of my kids seeing my scars and asking me about them or worse yet, becoming like me scared me into stopping. It made me find another way of dealing with the pain. It was challenging at times but worth it. It is possible, there are ways. My kids are everything to me. When you find that something then hang on to it.
We can overcome this together!
There is such a terrible stigma around self-injury, because so many people do not understand it - but I do, and there are a lot of us who do. You are not alone. I began engaging in self-injury when I was 15 years-old. I wanted to stop the emotional pain, and the physical pain was not only a distraction, but it provided me with immediate relief. However, the relief was only temporary and did not allow me to deal with my problems in an effective manner. I continued to harm myself for 9 more years as a way of coping, and finally got the help I needed years later. I am happy to say that I have not harmed myself in over 5 years, and can't even imagine ever thinking of doing so again. There is always hope, for every single one of us, and we can overcome this together!
Reaching out...
Stopping cutting isn't easy but it's definitely worth it. There's so much great stuff that you miss out on when you're keeping all your feelings inside. Reaching out was the best thing I ever did for myself.
I'm getting better...
I'm getting better. Having not cut for 3 months is a big deal for me. I do miss my razor sometimes but then I look at how misruble it made. How it made things worse. I'm not happy yet but I have to say I am not that depressed as I used to be. If you are a person reading this who SI's, know it gets better. It takes time. It isn't going to be easy, but stay strong. If I could do it you can too. Best of luck to everyone who wants and is getting better. I really wish all the best for you!!
don't think you can stop? THINK AGAIN!!!
… one day i relized it got very serious and told my best friend. she talked to me and tried to help. at first i thought she hated me for it. i learned she was just worried. she got me to tell a youth leader and then i eventaully told my parents. it was the scariest part! they were very understanding. i know that can be a scary part but it turned out to be the easiest! they talked to me and i was put in counciling. my counciler was so kind and understanding it was amazing. due to these steps, today on july 13th 2012 it has been 88 days since i last cut. i urge all the time but am able to fight. i know it sound scary to tell a a friend or parent but it will help…. i am telling you that you can stop and you can do this. you are not alone….
Stay Strong!
As a victim on SI, I've learned that at times I'm able to cope by taking every reason that's eating at me, writing it on paper, and burning the paper. As silly as it sounds, it's saved me on some of my worst nights. I've also passed this onto a girl at school who's scars I noticed.. she called me one night because I saved her life with giving her something better to do than harm herself.

As much as it seems like things don't get better, they truly do. Maybe not tomorrow, but one day.. and that day will be worth everything you've gone through.

Keep your heads up, and stay strong.
On My Way
5 years.. That's how long I struggled. From 7th grade all the way to 11th grade. My friends only knew about my cutting in 7th and 8th grade, but it continued well past that, clearly. It was an on and off thing where I'd go months without cutting, only to loose control again.. But, as my senior year approaches (something I never imagined living to see), I'm thankful that I'm still alive and, with the help of a very close friend, I am on my way to recovery.
It's okay
You are not alone. You are beautiful. Dont let anybody tell you you're not. Cutting isnt worth it. Stay Strong. Stay Free. Stay Beautiful.
stay strong
My life motto now is stay strong. My best friend kept saying that to me when I was in the dark.
I am brave
I am not a freak no matter what they say I am beautiful. I am strong. I am brave. And i can do this
Never give up!
I started cutting when I was 11 years old. I attemted suiside for the first time when I was 12 years old. I woke up in a hosbital when I was 13 years old. That day changed my life. That was the day that I realized i didn't want to die. All I wanted was a way out and with a little help I found if. Suiside if a permenent solution to a temporary problem. Don't ever give up hope. You are not alone.
Breathing
Self-injury used to be a big part of my life. I used it to forget the world around me and I could be in control. I didn't realize I was out of control till I couldn't stop. Talking to people about has really help me cope and quit cutting. It took me 3 trys to make it through therapy. You can do it. I am two years free of self-injury. Breathing has become easier and life has become bearable. I know I have people around who love me and support me. Cutting is never the answer. Love is.
Recovering
you deserve to be happy!!!!!!! it took me a really long time to finally look myself in the mirror and tell myself that i deserved more than razors and blood. and you also deserve more! no matter what anyone may have told you at any point you have the right to make yourself a happy and healthy life and one that youre proud of
Just stand up!
The heart is stronger than you think you can go through anything and even when you think you cant you'll find away to still push on . Sometimes you wanna run away aint got the patience for the pain Im telling you things get better through whatever you fall just get up don't give don't you know you can go be your own mirical. You need to know if the mind keeps thinking you've had enough but the heart keeps telling you don't give up... who are you to be question and wondering what ius what don't give up... THROUGH IT ALL JUST STAND UP !
You can stop too
I am 53years old and started to self harm at 45 I have been clean (and I say clean because self harm is an addiction) for 4 years. It wasnt easy for me I could feel my arms hurting to self harm but I decided I hated the feeling of having to self harm to make myself feel good.It was always a rollercoaster ride and it became very tiring. You need to just stop,it really feels like cold turkey. Take 1 minute at a time and feel good about yourself that you are actually doing something positive for yourself.
Hurting your self is reallya moment thing it works at the time but then the feeling goes away.Yiu need to self harm to get back that feeling. Just stop and get help.This will help you to continue on your path to feel good about yourself.
Don't be ashamed.
"Dont hide your scars, dont be ashamed, they are a constant reminder that you made it through. You are alive.
Hope never stops
For several days now I have listened to my loved one struggle with the urge to SI. As a mother I have decided to try harder to understand and reach out to the resources i never knew existed. This is a very real issue that I have been involved in for several years now, periodically rearing it's ugly head to remind us we're not finished with the battle and we never give up!

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all." Emily Dickinson
Recovery is a process...
Recovery is not an event. It's a process. I am one year free of self injury but I still consider myself to be in recovery. It's okay. Have faith. Things do get better. You're worth it!
I define me
Even after I had stopped cuttting, I used to look at my scars and think that they defined me. They were a constant reminder of what I did, but what I didnt realize is that they were also a constant reminder of how far I have come. My scars are part of who I am, but they dont define me; I define me.
Strategies
I find it helps to take your hand and rub/massage the spot you want to self-harm.
it does get better
Is it hard to believe that music can save a life? It did for me. "Carolyn" from Black Veil Brides saved me. It stopped me from self harming. If you're out there cutting yourself,it does get better. Listen to music,block out the messed up society. "You're not alone,we'll brave this storm. And face today,you're not alone"-Black Veil Brides
life is beautiful
I used to self injur it started when I was 15 and went through a traumatic event. It didn't stop until I was 18 but not before I tried to take my own life. I was always so depressed and never felt like anyone understood me or what I was going through. I got married and was so affraid to tell my husband about it but he saw the scars and I finally explained it to him. He stood by me and he has kept me strong. We have a beautiful 7 month old daughter and I get so scared sometimes because i know someday she will see my scars and ask me where they came from. I wish I knew what to say, I trust God will give me the right words. Life is beautiful and your body is sacred. Don't ever feel like your alone because I PROMISE you your not.
Now fight!
I know it seems stupid to take a life lesson from a movie about a schoolgirl in a mental hospital but I did. I cut for almost three years...I was doing so well until last year. My mom and I became seriously ill. I was in a coma for a week and almost died. My mom did after fighting for 5 months. I'm 24 now and until last June had lived with her almost all my life. We were not only family but friends....My mom fought for five months through horrific pain... She fought for me. It's only right I fight to honor her. It's not easy to learn how to live so late in life but I had someone amazing and beautiful to help me believe that maybe faith isn't something to scoff at. That hope isn't just a ticket to pain and disappointment. Like it says at the end of Suckerpunch, "You have all the weapons you need. Now fight."
Not-ashamed
I have been 1 month cut-free. I cut because I wanted people to be attentive to me, no one was noticing me, so I wanted to give them a reason to notice me. Today, I realize I didn't need to cut, I just needed to talk. Not to a casual friend, but to someone who cares. I'm not ashamed of my past, it is what I do with it to shape my future that matters.
finding the answers
at first I was scared to tell my best friend, once I did a weight was lifted. she never questioned, but tried to understand. from that day on I learned a lot about myself. I finally found answers that I was looking for.
I. Will. Stop.
Currently I am trying to stop self-injuring. I will stop. It takes a while, and so much determination and willpower, but eventually, I. Will. Stop.

and so will you.
your tomorrow
i know everyone is told that life gets better, but really think about that. in ten years, none of this will matter. you'll be so strong. so strong. even in two years, you'll be okay. promises are made to be broken, so i swear to you, you'll wake up one day and feel the weight of the world slowly but surely lifting off of you. you'll be okay. maybe not now, but your "tomorrow" will come.
never give in...
Never give in to the darkness and the addiction of cutting. You are stronger than you think. You will get better and you can-will- stop.

Your Stories, Your Quotes

If you have a personal story or quote about your recovery, or words of encouragement you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it. Click here to drop us a line.

"Tell someone you can trust, someone who won’t laugh at you; tell your teacher or a counsellor. I know it seems like they are oblivious to what we go through but there’s a really good chance they will understand (they may have gone through similar stuff when they were younger). Let your heart reach out and you’ll find peace."

"Self-injury will not define me. What I do from now on about self-injury will define me."

"Like everyone says, self-injury urges are part of recovery. I haven’t cut in 10 months. I still get urges from time to time but the time between them gets longer. It gets better if that makes sense. Keep fighting everyone, you’re doing well"

"Self-injury is not worth it. You are. Hang in there. Believe in yourself. You are strong, beautiful and YOU will get through this.You can and will get through this."

All information found on SiOS is provided for information and education purposes only. The information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician or mental health professional. You should always consult your doctor for specific information on personal health matters, or other relevant professionals to ensure that your own circumstances are considered.

Getting Help

You need Flash player 6+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.

Wendy Lader, PhDPresident & Clinical Director, SAFE Alternatives

How helpful were the recovery stories and quotes?

	Very Helpful
	Somewhat Helpful
	Neutral
	Somewhat Unhelpful
	Very Unhelpful

Self-Injury Outreach

A collobarative project between McGill University and Guelph University.

Your Stories, Your Quotes

If you have a personal story or quote about your recovery, or words of encouragement you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it. Click here to drop us a line.

Getting Help

Quick Links

Sponsors

Sites We Like