A friend won't stop..

[Lyra Heartstrings]

Yes, this is actually a friend. I used to self harm, but have stopped. If you really think this is a thinly disguised thread for me to get help for myself..you're quite silly.
~
A good friend of mine has recently started self harming. These are a few chat logs:
8:47 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Yes.
8:47 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Jake, you don't get it.
8:47 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: I don't care if you say "It's not deep."
8:47 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Or "It was only a few times."
8:47 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: It turns into an addiction.
8:47 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Beyond a habit.
8:47 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: You have to have it in your life.
8:47 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Or you go insane.
8:48 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: It will overtake you,.
8:48 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Eat you alive.
8:48 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Drive you to insanity.
8:48 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: And, sometimes, suicide.
8:48 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: You NEED to stop.
8:48 PM - thesnake: I am doing fine thank you.
8:48 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: I don't believe you.
~
8:57 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Please.
8:57 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Stop.
8:58 PM - thesnake: I have to get back to work. I never asked for your feelings, don't get involved with mine.
8:58 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: ..Do you realize how you're hurting everyone around you?
8:58 PM - -|TB|- Lyra™♥ᶜʰʳᶦˢ: Do you even..care?
thesnake is now Away.
~
I went on another tyrade, but he just seemed to ignore it. I'm at a loss for words now. I don't know what to say..what do I do?

[Noirtier]

Hun, I'm going to tell you something that isn't pleasant to hear, and that's one of the hardest things in the world when you see someone you're close to hurting themselves--you've done all you can, and will get no where trying to convince him otherwise at this point. Now, there's only one thing left you can do--be there for him, care about him, make sure he knows you care about him, and just be a friend to him. It's a very hard thing to see your friends like this--trust me, I know, I have friends in this position as well. But there comes a point where all you can do is show them you care about them and stick with them, no matter how bad things get. Support them, even if you don't approve of everything they're doing, because in the end they're your friend, and if you really care about them, then that's the best thing you can do for them at this point. I'm sorry you're in this situation, because I know how hard it is. We're all here to support and help you if you need it, and I hope that your friend is able, in the end, to stop.

[Lyra Heartstrings]

Hun, I'm going to tell you something that isn't pleasant to hear, and that's one of the hardest things in the world when you see someone you're close to hurting themselves--you've done all you can, and will get no where trying to convince him otherwise at this point. Now, there's only one thing left you can do--be there for him, care about him, make sure he knows you care about him, and just be a friend to him. It's a very hard thing to see your friends like this--trust me, I know, I have friends in this position as well. But there comes a point where all you can do is show them you care about them and stick with them, no matter how bad things get. Support them, even if you don't approve of everything they're doing, because in the end they're your friend, and if you really care about them, then that's the best thing you can do for them at this point. I'm sorry you're in this situation, because I know how hard it is. We're all here to support and help you if you need it, and I hope that your friend is able, in the end, to stop.

Thank you. We've mostly dropped the subject, but I'm trying my best to be here for him..

[Love.Hate]

Sometimes there is little you can do, no matter how much you tell someone they dont get it, until its too late and fall into the trap. You may be lucky enough to find that its just a few occasional one off's and doesnt progress into a need and desire for it, some people dont have this addictive personality.. idk. Either way, you can only do your best, dont be hard on yourself if he wont listen to you. It is so hard seeing someone suffer and knowing what they are going through, but its his choice as to whether he accepts your help or not :/

You're a good friend for trying, just be there for him all you can

:hug:

[Desuetude]

You can see how much you care for him through what you've said but just think back to how if felt for you when you were in his position. If someone was very forceful in telling you to stop how would you have reacted? Even people telling you how it was, you didn't want to hear because you already knew what you were getting yourself into. Your friend probably realises he's hurting the people around him and personally, that's the hardest part of self harming but it doesn't go so far as to make you want to stop.

Telling someone to stop because it's bad won't get through to them. Being there and being supportive by sharing other outlets with him might be a good idea. I know you've said you dropped the subject but it might be good to do something like bring up a couple of other things to try other than cutting -you've probably heard them all before but: writing things down, taking a shower, doing activities he enjoys. If you're in need of a list I'm sure you can find some in past threads or we could help you out but like Clint said it's just a case of being supportive and making him know he's not alone.