I'm afraid to ask for help

[GeddupxD]

Well the title is pretty self explanatory.

I have severe depression and anxiety.

I turn to cutting as a way of dealing with my problems. And I'm starting to scare myself, I'm starting to enjoy the feeling/pain more than I should.

I know it's not good, but I physically can't help it.

I really want to get help, but the only way I can explain why I haven't got help is that my anxiety has me in a noose that's getting tighter and tighter as time goes by.

Please someone help me. :/

[Surreal]

I want to start by saying that there is no reason to be afraid to ask for help. If you are depressed and anxious, and cutting, then you probably do need to try to talk to someone about what is going on in your life. Cutting is an addiction caused by those sad feelings when someone is depressed, and it can actually be a physical addiction because of the chemicals it releases. However, it is not healthy, and can hurt you.

The fact that you are scared of cutting yourself is a good sign! I would suggest starting by talking to someone you trust who is responsible. If you do not feel comfortable talking to someone you know, there is always the help hotline for Your Life Your Voice (yourlifeyourvoice.org / 1-800-448-3000 / or through their e-mail or web-chat) who can talk you through how to seek help with your depression, anxiety, and self harm problems. I have used this site a lot and they are really great people. I suggest for your case you contact them through e-mail or web-chat. Their number hotline is mostly for suicide cases, but I'm sure they'd be glad to help you!

As for the anxiety, I suggest finding something that you enjoy to release the urges to cut yourself. Do you have anything that takes your mind off of your problems? A sport? An activity? If you can find something that requires a good amount of concentration, try doing that activity whenever you get anxious. Activities like television, internet browsing, and video games will not help though, because they require a very low amount of concentration. In the background you will still be focused on your anxiety.

You can also try the Lightstream Technique to help with your anxiety.

I hope this helps.

Lightstream Grounding Technique
If client reports upsetting bodily sensations, ask:

“If it had a shape, what shape would it be?”
“If it had a size, what size would it be?”
“If it had a colour, what colour would it be?”
“If it had a temperature, what temperature would it be? Hot or cold?”
“If it had a texture, what texture would it be?”
“If it had a sound, what sound would it make? High or low pitch?”

Then direct an imagery exercise:
“I would like you to imagine some healing light coming down from above and moving in through the top of your head. This healing light is directing itself at the shape in your body. I would like you to give this wonderful healing light your favourite colour (make sure it is a different colour from the shape). I would like you to decide whether this light is warm or cool. Now imagine this light coming in from above, through your head, into your body. The light directs itself towards the shape in your body and notice how it resonates with it, vibrates with it, in and around it. And just notice as it does this what happens to the shape”

Repeat the suggestion and seek feedback about what is happening to the shape. Repeat variations on the suggestion until the shape is gone/neutralised. After the shape has gone bring light into the person’s whole body.

[SandyBomb]

Actually I undertand how it can be when you are scared to ask for the help, but you should remember that when you will ask you really can get some help which will get you out of depression and bad feelings. You should not be scared as thousands of people are getting through this.

[GeddupxD]

Hey, Thanks for the advice. :)

I don't really know why I'm scared about asking for help, if I'm entirely honest. :/

I just guess I don't really know how to explain my problems to a doctor. I know they've probably dealt with people with the same problems before but its just that I don't like answering questions unless I feel comfortable answering, and if I am speaking to a doctor I can't exactly not answer or lie about anything.