Does SH ever stop?

[mantis]

I've been self harming off and on for almost 10 years now. Is this just something I have to live with? Seems like the urge always comes back eventually.
Has anyone here ever stopped completely or know someone who has? If not permanently have you/ or someone you know been able to stop for more than a year or two? Just curious.

 

[timf]

It might be helpful to consider it something like an addiction. For example, if a person is an alcoholic and a stressful event occurs, they might be tempted to cope with it by having a drink. If they resist the temptation, they can make it to the next time an event arises.

 

[Hvergelmir]

Has anyone here ever stopped completely[...]?

I have.

Last time I cut myself was maybe 15 years ago. I cut a bit deeper than usual with an unusually sharp knife.
It bled a lot, and I just realized how pointless it was. Maybe I was desensitized, but it just didn't to anything for me.

Since then, I've had no further urge.

I'm sorry that I can't be more specific, but I think realizing and fully internalizing the shear futility of it, is key.

 

[mantis]

I have.

Last time I cut myself was maybe 15 years ago. I cut a bit deeper than usual with an unusually sharp knife.
It bled a lot, and I just realized how pointless it was. Maybe I was desensitized, but it just didn't to anything for me.

Since then, I've had no further urge.

I'm sorry that I can't be more specific, but I think realizing and fully internalizing the shear futility of it, is key.

Thank you for your reply. I knew it was possible I just wanted to hear it from some real people.

 

[MidnightCat]

Oh, sh...

I've been clean for more than 10 years. I still have some deep cuts that hurt if it's freezing outside or there's a lot of humidity. Hell, even if I'm just anxious.

I gotta say tho... It's not like the urge magically disappeared. I still got the urge to sh from time to time (it varies between multiple times a week to a month without) and... I may even say I miss it.

Still, I manage to control myself. It'll probably always be there at the back of my mind, and as @timf said... The closer thing to compare it's addiction.

You can surely "get out of it", it may be hard, but it's definitely doable.

 

[Cloud Busting]

supposedly, most people outgrow it.

I never fully have.

I'd say it was at its peak from ages 14-19. I still did it throughout my twenties, but not as often. Nor have I needed stitches since age 18.

I don't really get the urge anymore. If I do it it happens sporadically, as a one off event, usually when I'm suicidal or drunk. I did lapse into some harming behavior a few months ago but I've stopped since.

So yeah I don't know. Never fully outgrew it, but it's far less severe and frequent now in my thirties.

 

[mantis]

Oh, sh...

I've been clean for more than 10 years. I still have some deep cuts that hurt if it's freezing outside or there's a lot of humidity. Hell, even if I'm just anxious.

I gotta say tho... It's not like the urge magically disappeared. I still got the urge to sh from time to time (it varies between multiple times a week to a month without) and... I may even say I miss it.

Still, I manage to control myself. It'll probably always be there at the back of my mind, and as @timf said... The closer thing to compare it's addiction.

You can surely "get out of it", it may be hard, but it's definitely doable.

Thank you for your reply. I'm quite medically anxious so I would like to stop regardless of how I feel. Knowing people have been able to resist the urge is very helpful to me.