finally trying to quit

[jbraud]

so here's the deal: i've been cutting for about 3 years, and i just told my girlfriend about it, and she got really upset and made me promise that i would try really hard to quit. I did good for about a week, but then cut again. i can't seem to manage to resist cutting for more than 2 weeks. any help would be appreciated.

[georgiamay]

have you tried using distractions when you have an urge to cut? Maybe write down how you feel to get it out rather than cutting. Or if you really want to feel pain, you could wear an elastic band around your wrist and snap it once when you have an urge, but it's important that you don't over do the snapping.

Maybe just keep yourself busy when you think you might want to cut.

Or... you could go out for a walk whenever you want to cut, to get yourself out of the house, and away from things that you could use to cut. And throw away your blades, and the things you normally use to cut with.

But a week without cutting is really good! The more you try to stop, the longer you'll be able to go.

Good luck :hug3:

[Fiction]

The best thing you can do is get rid of your blades. I know that is really hard but it really is the most sucessful thing at stopping and also your gf will be able to see from that you are trying. If you can't get rid of your blades though as Georgia said use distractions. Keep going and good luck :)
Feel free to pm/vm or email me if you ever want to talk... or need a distraction.

[tombstone]

http://www.siriusproject.org/alternatives.htm

That is a good site for alternatives. You should also try just talking to her when you get the urge. It can really help.

[blah_x]

Yeah honestly mate, distractions are the only way to go.
for me personally its music, but i did have to delete all the sort of depressive songs of my lappy, the sort off triggered something in me.
keep trying though. it all starts by resisting the urge just once :)

[Mike321]

A week is good, so well done
And like the others have the best thing to do is find distractions, anything that takes your mind off it, like listening to your favorite music or going out for a walk etc
Or if you cant find anything some of the other methods people have mentioned might help you, like elastic band one for example
Hope this helps

[spfreak]

A week is a great start. Babysteps. Hide/throw away your blades. Seeing them will only make you think of cutting. Keep up the hard work and you wont feel the need to cut anymore :)

[jbraud]

i threw everything away already, but the problem is that i used torn aluminum dr. pepper cans to cut, and i really like drinking dr. pepper, so its hard to stay away from them. and i made a record of 2 months a while back, using an airsoft plastic bb gun as an alternative, but that didnt really do much. i find myself trying to use anything i can to cut with though, and then when i realize wat i'm doing, i feel terrible about it.

[1_21Guns]

never feels like it, but the first day of not cutting is actually one of the hardest you face.
that moment when you decide enough is enough, is the moment you must hang on to.
a week, is amazing.
you don't get further, without getting that far.
as spfreak said, babysteps is the key to it.
chuck your blades (only if you feel ready, i've known both myself and other SHers manically search for something else, it's not pretty)
take that moment when you decide enoughs enough, and use that courage to get rid.
you have an amazing reason to stop,
but an even better one, is to stop for yourself.
just remember, next time you want to give up, those annoying urges, there only seems to be one cure for? there's another, that doesn't scar you for life. both alternatives, and time are the only ways to deal with them without SHing.
you're better than that, and you can beat it.
it'll get tough, not gonna lie, but it's always worth it to be able to say that you've gone so long without.
we're all here if you need us :hug3:

EDIT:

as i posted you posted.

like i said about the don't get rid until you're ready, or you find yourself doing that, feel like you deserve it more, and it just gets worse.
use it as a test, it's there, but you don't need it. you don't have to use it. you're stronger.
that's what i had to do for a long time.

[welcome_to_chaos]

there are a lot of alternatives...http://www.recoveryourlife.com/index.php?categoryid=60..ive found that list of distractions helpful :)..if u ever need anything u can vm/pm me :) im always here if u want to talk. and congrats on agreeing to quit. its the best thing for a person

[jbraud]

thanks everyone for the help and support, i'll give the tips a try and update again soon :)

[AppealToReason]

Since others have already posted helpful advice..I just wanted to wish you the best of luck and say congrats on going a week.

[jbraud]

unfortunately my record of a week had to restart, but i'm proud to say that i've made it a week again, and only had one day where i really struggled :)

[tombstone]

unfortunately my record of a week had to restart, but i'm proud to say that i've made it a week again, and only had one day where i really struggled :)

You should be, you need to start somewhere :) Just keep trying.

[Mike321]

Well done for making it a week, its never an easy thing to stop
And so you should be proud, keep on going :)

[Punk_Kid]

I do hope your able to quit quit:D I cut for about a month and was able to quit for about 3 months but I've started again.

I find it helpful to listen to calming music instead of my usual metal and heavy rock. Like other people have said, get rid of anything you can cut with.

Hope your successful:D

[jbraud]

just an update, yesterday was the 1 month mark for me, and today and yesterday have been the toughest days to make it through so far. i'm trying to keep going, but i'm afraid i'm gonna lose control and do somethin i really regret. i'm trying to distract myself from thinkin about it, but i am havin trouble keepin my guard up all the time. idk what to do. i'm kind of in a rut.