Before you self harm, ask yourself these questions... *Triggering Content*

[ManorPaul]

  I have been self-harming for the past twenty years. Too many cuts, too many scars, so many emotions. Just want and need to stop!!!

[Innocent Forever]

Why do I feel I need to hurt myself?
Because I know it'll bring me calm, I'll stop shaking, I won't feel like I do

What has brought me to this point?
I called someone now (coz' do whatever is suggested, yeah, right), and was more honest with this person then have been with anyone ever before, and feeling really vulnerable, and just feel like I deserve to mess up and need to mess up

Have I been here before?
Yes. Many times

What did I do to deal with it?
Only way I've ever dealt with it is by lying in bed curled up listening to music banging in my ears holding a heart cushion, can't do that now, coz', don't have earphones

How did I feel then?
Didn't feel then, that was the point. Did it always until slept. And would take hours for me to calm down

What have I done to ease this discomfort so far?
Answered this. Emailed someone honestly.

What else can I do that won't be acting out?
Call people. Should. Just, can't coz' don't deserve to.

How do I feel right now?
Confused. Vulnerable. Alone. Really vulnerable/exposed

How will I feel when I am acting out?
Calm. Relieved. Okay. In sync - messing up is what I deserve

How will I feel after acting out?
My head will be more of a mess. Now it's not such a mess, I just want this to stop, and it has been a mess for so long. I think I'll feel despair, hopeless, worthless, and still alone and vulnerable

How will I feel tomorrow morning?
Really messed up

Can I avoid this stressor or deal with it better in the future?
No. Being honest inevitably makes me vulnerable. And why I'm feeling more like it now is coz' he is trying to do something for me, and I don't deserve it and have to prove that I don't. Can't think of how to change that in future. It'll probably always be this way. And I think I'm dealing with it pretty well.

Do I need to act out?​
I don't know. I feel like I do, but in the past when I've thought it was impossible not to I've gotten through it somehow without, and if then I didn't maybe now to I can get through this without. And really acting out won't help me any, will just bring me closer to the edge, which I'm close enough to already. I do need to act out, but, god doesn't need me to.

[chuckles]

Why do I feel I need to hurt myself?I desserve the pain
What has brought me to this point?Raw emotions/anger
Have I been here before?lots
What did I do to deal with it?cut
How did I feel then?In pain but better
What I have done to ease this discomfort so far?nothing just cut
What else can I do that won't hurt me?dont know
How do I feel right now? At this moment meh
How will I feel when I am hurting myself? good pressure release
How will I feel after hurting myself? good for a while
How will I feel tomorrow morning? hurting
Can I avoid this stressor, or deal with it better in the future? probably but cant see past the urge to cut at the moment seems like my only way to let it all pout
Do I need to hurt myself

[diamondwithaflaw]

Why do I feel I need to hurt myself?
Because I'm a failure, that's what happens..you fail, or you're bad..you get punished.
What has brought me to this point?
My life..I've tried so hard but will never be more than a misfit.
Have I been here before?
Yes, but not for a long time.
What did I do to deal with it?
Inappropriately
How did I feel then?
Ashamed
What I have done to ease this discomfort so far?
Thought, shared, rethought, reached out.
What else can I do that won't hurt me?
Nothing
How do I feel right now?
Exhausted
How will I feel when I am hurting myself?
Relief, loathing, relief
How will I feel after hurting myself?
I'm not sure
How will I feel tomorrow morning?
I don't want to feel anything tomorrow morning.
Can I avoid this stressor, or deal with it better in the future?
No, this is my life.
Do I need to hurt myself?
I don't think it will ever be enough again..

[Theres always light]

Why do I feel I need to hurt myself?
The urges are really strong

What has brought me to this point?
Putting it off for so long

Have I been here before?
Yes

What did I do to deal with it?
Sleep/ignore

How did I feel then?
crazy/insane

What I have done to ease this discomfort so far?
write stuff down on here and on paper

What else can I do that won't hurt me?
sleep but the urges just won't calm down
 
How do I feel right now?
tired, insane, angry and all over the place

How will I feel when I am hurting myself?
bad and guilty

How will I feel after hurting myself?
calmer, better, settled, still guilty

How will I feel tomorrow morning?
guilty but better as well

Can I avoid this stressor, or deal with it better in the future?
Maybe am just not in the right place to focus the now

Do I need to hurt myself?
Probably not, other people don't but the urges are screaming.

[tornadoonmymind]

Why do I feel I need to hurt myself? i feel i'm not good enough, i feel empty, indifferent and alone
What has brought me to this point? having nothing interesting in my life, routine and stress
Have I been here before? yes
What did I do to deal with it? waited until it got better
How did I feel then? empty and indifferent but not to this extend
What I have done to ease this discomfort so far? try to focus on my studies
What else can I do that won't hurt me? i don't feel like anything can help me right now
How do I feel right now? as if i'm in a grey zone; nothing's ''black" or "white".. i don't know if that makes sense
How will I feel when I am hurting myself? relieved
How will I feel after hurting myself? adrenaline
How will I feel tomorrow morning? the same as before...
Can I avoid this stressor, or deal with it better in the future? at this moment, no
Do I need to hurt myself? feels like it sometimes

[Theres always light]

Why do I feel I need to hurt myself? I don't feel like am actually here, everything slows down without it and I find it really hard to concentrate

What has brought me to this point? Putting it off

Have I been here before? Yes

What did I do to deal with it? Went to sleep and drew on my arms

How did I feel then? crazy

What I have done to ease this discomfort so far? talk online about it, listen to music, tried to socialise and now am going to draw 

What else can I do that won't hurt me? Sit in my room waiting the urges out which feels a lot worse than actually acting on them

How do I feel right now? Sh*t, distant, restless, stressed, fat, greedy, isolated and really angry.

How will I feel when I am hurting myself? Relaxed, worried, guilty, whole, warm 

How will I feel after hurting myself? Worried, guilty and content

How will I feel tomorrow morning? Regretful but satisfied

Can I avoid this stressor, or deal with it better in the future? Most likely but not thinking straight right now

Do I need to hurt myself? It would help right now, it would really help, but it would course more trouble later on, maybe in a place no one could see... and then again, looking at other peoples answers on here, do I really need to give in? Can I be strong just for me?  Can I make myself proud one day?

[hidden_life]

I ve been answering these questions in my head just now, since its been 7 years since I've cut. I've been pinching myself pretty hard tonight in an attempt to curb the urge, but clicking on this link and really making myself answer the questions, has been upsetting and challenging but I'm hoping will be enough to stop me cutting.

I cant go back there.....

Thank you

[Ria]

Why do I feel I need to hurt myself?
It brings me back to reality, everything in my head calms down for a while at least.

What has brought me to this point?
Pure desperation.

Have I been here before?
I've suffered with mental illness for as long as I can remember.

What did I do to deal with it?
I hide in my bedroom listening to music. I also sleep a lot because its the only time I feel any kind of release from my existence.

How did I feel then?
I don't feel any physical pain while hurting myself, but just knowing that its done helps.

What I have done to ease this discomfort so far?
I find it extremely difficult to say how I'm feeling so I write it down instead.

What else can I do that won't hurt me?
I try to distract myself by watching a movie or just going on the internet. I also find that a cold shower helps.

How do I feel right now?
Like a burden to those around me.

How will I feel when I am hurting myself?
Desperate. Its my way of feeling any kind of control.

How will I feel after hurting myself?
Relieved because the stinging of the injury proves that I can feel physical pain, it also helps me to connect with reality. Pain doesn't lie.

How will I feel tomorrow morning?
Guilty, ashamed, embarrassed, exhausted

Can I avoid this stressor, or deal with it better in the future?
The stress comes from me and you can't avoid yourself.

Do I need to hurt myself?
Yes, otherwise I'll be stuck inside this negative whirlpool inside my head.