the rubber band ... and other stuff.

[Etcetera]

so i went to a recovery center a couple months ago that my school nurse sent me to because i told them i was cutting.

well the counselor there told me to use the rubber band thing where you wear a rubber band as a bracelet and when you feel the urge to cut you snap it against your wrist.

my question is, can this itself become a way of self-harm. like if it's happening every day is that bad. because im 43 days no cutting, but i still feel like inside that if im snapping the rubber band multiple times a day that's not good is it? or is it okay?

im so upset right now that even the hardest band i listen to (boarderline screamo) isnt hard enough and i cant identify what emotion im feeling i want to cry but its like i cant. :/

[Synyster Shadows]

Maybe if you have to use it a lot every day, then it's a problem. But if it's only used sparingly and isn't needed too much, then no. And how many times do you mean by "multiple"?

[Etcetera]

Maybe if you have to use it a lot every day, then it's a problem. But if it's only used sparingly and isn't needed too much, then no. And how many times do you mean by "multiple"?

like constantly. instead of me cutting im doing the rubber band now. and it's only gotten to be that much the past like two days.

[Synyster Shadows]

That's difficult. If it had been longer then I'd say it's self-harm but it's only been a few days so it could just be a really bad episode or something. I'd give it more time, like a week, then see how much you had to use the rubber band.

[Etcetera]

That's difficult. If it had been longer then I'd say it's self-harm but it's only been a few days so it could just be a really bad episode or something. I'd give it more time, like a week, then see how much you had to use the rubber band.

i dont even know why im upset right now. :/

[Synyster Shadows]

Just monitor your usage of it for the next week, like how many times you snap it a day. The more you seem to do it, the more that it points more to the band becoming a method of self-harm

[ksdnfkfr]

The cutting is just a coping mechanism, but its harmful.
Snapping replaces it as a non-harmful coping mechanism.
Probably the thing to do is decrease the amount of snapping,
by being more proactive about what is causing you to snap so often.

[DarkHorse4eva]

i guess its like if you cut yourself, except it can't be seen afterwards. it sounds like a good idea, might be usefulll for others

[xXl0sth0peXx]

I don't think it's a matter of how many times a day, but more so how hard. If you're doing it so hard that it leaves your wrist numb or leaves permanent marks, then that's the point when I would begin to get concerned. If you're not there, I don't think there's too much of a problem. It's much better than alternatives, and the hope is over time, you won't feel that constant urge.

I do agree monitor it though. Maybe not religiously, but enough that over time, hopefully you'll be able to see progress.

Remember, it does get better. You can always PM me if you need someone to talk to. :hug: