I appreciate that this won't work for everyone, but being a self harmer for three years I have finally found a way of stopping and I feel I have to share it.

I worked out that it's not the pain that makes me do it but it's seeing the blood. I've tried red pens but it's not realistic enough. I don't even know what made me do this, but the other day I took a blunt knife and dipped it in red food colouring before lightly stroking it across my arm. It left lines exactly like real wounds and I felt better straight away, just the same as when I did it for real. Now when I'm having a bad day I find myself reaching for the food colouring and blunt knife instead of a razor blade.

I'm so relieved that I can get the same relief as cutting gave me but without the danger and scarring. I hope it can help someone else too.

Ive tried that.. it doesn't work for me =c

Have you asked for help from a professional counselor to try to get at the reason for feeling the need to do self-harm?

Perhaps that could be a better long-term solution.

The personal views and opinions above are neither provided nor intended for consumption within a professional-client relationship. Any reader applying these views and opinions in life situations assumes full responsibility for the results of doing so.

I have a friend that also cuts. I am on here looking for some way to help her. An honestly I think professionals cannot help because people who have this problem feel that no one understands. Professionals are trained to help, but everyone is different an I think unless they went through it themselves they will never know how to fully help someone. I think maybe talking to someone who has gone through it and have stopped maybe able to help... That would be my suggestion... That is all I can say because I do not understand your reasonings to do this. I hope this helps in some way...