My Other Self Harm

[Atonement]

I chew on the inside of my mouth

Ever since I can remember, when I am nervous and when I am unhappy, I chew my lip. Not like the outside, but the inside of my mouth. I bit and chew until I literally bite of pieces... I bleed sometimes even. I can rarely eat substantially salty foods for it just throws salt in my wounds. It is different than my cutting because to cut, I need to go get a blade. To bite, I just sit there and bite. My mouth's "blades" are always RIGHT there. I do it anywhere, sitting here, even, I could. During class. While driving. While I am trying to sleep even. I guess this could be clasified self harm.

But I dont know how to stop. I have lost feeling in most the inside of my mouth because of this. Almost eight years probably.I cant even think about stopping because it is so familiar and so easy to do and to access. My eyes water during a test. It is very embarressing.I have no clue what to do.


Has anyone even ever heard of someone doing something like this?

Help? Any suggestions at all are welcome.

[theOperaGhost]

Man I don't know. You could try chewing on a pen or pencil or something. That would be better that your lip. That's the best I've got.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Like PianoMan said, find something else to chew on. Gum, perhaps? I used to chew on my lip when I'd get nervous, and it was like someone would ALWAYS be telling me "Oh, hey, your lip's bleeding," and I'd just mumble, "yeah, I know..." Eventually my mom pulled me aside and said, "I don't know if you realize it, but you chew on your lip a lot. Stop it, you look silly." And from then on when I'd chew on my lip she'd give me a look and I'd be like, "oh, right!" and stop doing it. If you have a friend you see pretty often, tell them, "You may have noticed I chew on my lip sometimes. Well, I'm trying to stop doing that so if you see it happening, let me know." Being conscious of the fact that you're doing it, and that other people notice you're doing it, can really help you stop.

[Atonement]

I do it in a way that no one noticed. Since I chew on the inside, no one even knows.


Gum, and have someone remind me... got it.

[electric7rocker]

i do that.
all the time. since before i can remember.

[NextToNormal]

i do it too. it was a lot worse when i had braces for some reason. its like you dont even realize you are doing it. chewing gum does help alot

[electric7rocker]

were not allowed to chew gum in class at my school... i actually end up chewing on the inside of my mouth a lot. i used listerine today.... and my whole mouth hurt soooo bad.... but addison if you can get away with gum do it. or a pen or pencil is a good idea too.

[The Batman]

I use to do that alot but its just something I grew out of just try and keep gum around you so you can chew on it instead

[Falk 'Ace' Flyer]

were not allowed to chew gum in class at my school... i actually end up chewing on the inside of my mouth a lot. i used listerine today.... and my whole mouth hurt soooo bad.... but addison if you can get away with gum do it. or a pen or pencil is a good idea too.

Chew on paper. It works. I did it all throughout middle school for the same reason.