Hi Katrell, Thank you for your question! I can understand how that might be triggering; it's perfectly normal to grieve over losing something, especially if that something is a part of you.
Maybe take some pictures of your scars; you can even print and paste them into a journal, where you can write about why they're important to you and other things that will help you with the healing process. Or, you can draw them or make other art based on your scars and your journey. This is a bigger decision, not one to take lightly, but I also know that tattoos have been helpful for many people. Often, they're used to hide old scars, but in your case maybe a tattoo that pays homage to your past as well as hope for your future can act as a stand-in for your scars as they fade; the tattoo won't or at least shouldn't!
However, definitely give this one plenty of thought before you go through with it, for obvious reasons. I think the most helpful thing, though, might be to find a way to let go. I know that isn't easy, and may not be what you wanted to hear, but it's natural for your scars to fade--it's all a part of the healing process.
I hope these suggestions help; if you have any questions or other concerns you'd like to discuss, don't hesitate to reply here or comment elsewhere on the blog.
I'll be reading. Hi Otis, It's definitely challenging when your own scars may be triggering you. The first thing I want to suggest, at the risk of being obvious, is to try and work with a therapist to resolve this issue. I cannot overstate the value of finding a mental health professional who can help you find healthy ways to cope that work specifically for you and your situation.
Another idea that springs to mind is to consider whether you might want to have your scars removed by medical professionals or perhaps cover them with tattoos. This might help reduce the impact of looking at them, although ultimately I think it will also be important that you find some more coping techniques to add to your repertoire as well.
Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques can help address the thought patterns that may be leading you to want to relapse, while mindfulness techniques might help reduce the impact of seeing your scars along with other triggers that may be at work here. On a more personal note, as someone who still has to fend off certain thoughts and emotions related to self-harm from time to time, I find it helpful to also stop and really think about how far I've come—focusing on how many years it's been since I self-harmed, and how proud I am of my progress, can help me maintain control.
Some serious stress-relieving self-care long baths, going for a walk, exercising, reading your favorite book—whatever works for you can also have more an impact than you might think.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions or need more ideas, feel free to ask. Sincerely, Kim. Hi Chloe, A lot of my inspiration comes from thinking about what things I wish someone had said to ME, back when I was actively self-harming. Which means I shed a few tears myself, writing posts like this.
But they're good tears; they're healing tears. It helps me to know that I can help, even in a small way. A friend of mine is having problems with her scars, they're putting her in a dark place, and I don't know what to say to help her feel better about it.
Do the scars make her want to relapse, or remind her of the situation when she made them originally? Your skin also has special nerves that get irritated when skin and tissue grow and stretch to fill in a wound. Those irritated nerves send a signal to your brain that you have an itch, and that makes you want to scratch it.
You could scratch right through the scab and cause your wound to bleed. Then the healing would have to start all over again! Some of the words will be new to you, so watch it with a grown-up! Sadly, what can start as fairly innocuous behavior can lead to more serious harm and even attempts at suicide. Maybe you tend to push people away, and in sabotaging your relationships, you are actually subconsciously self-sabotaging. We wanted to know what behaviors people engaged in that they realized were actually self-harm, so we turned to our Mighty community to share their experiences.
You can read what they shared with us below. For example, avoiding going to the doctor may be the result of a struggle with anxiety , not self-harm. Often what makes a behavior self-destructive is the harmful thought process behind the behavior. Overspending can be simply defined as living beyond your financial means. If you overspend, there is no shame in struggling. But when my depression kicks in, I always buy things.
A lot of it has do with self-image too. I think if I have nice things, I will feel better about myself. Then there is that part of me that just wants to fill that void. Then I descend into the cycle all over again. Isolation is a common experience for those living with mental illness. I stay home all the time, even when I know it would be good for me to get out and do something. Other body-focused repetitive behaviors BFRBs , such as nail biting, may also coincide with excoriation.
Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation Phone: Email: info ocfoundation. Picking Me Foundation Email: meredith pickingme. SkinPick Phone: Email: info skinpick.
Left untreated, obsessions and the need to perform rituals can take over a person's life. OCD is often a chronic, relapsing illness.
Trichotillomania is a body-focused repetitive behavior classified as an impulse control disorder which involves pulling out one's hair.
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