[Taylor1313]

I talked to the counselor but what she told me to do didn't help me a lot.I did stop cutting myself but then I began to feel like I was in a deep dark pit of emptyness.then in order to know I was still alive and on earth I cut again.

[derp77]

Not really

I know I am going to get "reported" for this, but I do believe everyone should understand a bit more about this subject through a cutter's eyes. I am a cutter, have been for over 10 years. Everyone goes through stress, it's just a part of life, what really people only care about is how to handle it. And let me tell you, all these folks telling you to stop it and and just saying it behind a closed door with their own skeleton with them. Stress relief is a "pick your own poison" type a game. You can choose drugs or alcohol like most people, smoking, eating like the obese, become obsessed with technological gear, or even sleeping too much. Even when you try to find a healthier solution like something creative, there will always be a critic laughing at you. So I picked cutting out of all that. Why you ask? Simple really, every stress relief harms you in some way or another, I just found cutting the most quick, easiest, and natural way to do so. Bodies go through so many cuts all our lives and hardly any of them do serious damage. All you got to do is take care of it. All I do is slather it up with some Neosporin and nothing ever happens, and nothing ever will happen. I don't know, but it sure does beat damaging my inner organs. And I've been told about all my serious addiction problems and past problems and stuff. But I'm being honest here, I have never ever touched any drug in my whole life. Not even weed, I don't need it, I've already picked my poison. I'm not telling you to do it just to choose wisely. Just FYI!

[mogrann]

I am a former self injurer. I do see your side of things, I really do. I self injured( for ease I will put SI ) because I did not have access to other coping mechanisms. I was put on medications that made me less emotional. I felt nothing. Though I still did injure myself.
Is it wrong you ask? No to begin with that is a judgment based in no facts. Fact. You have extreme emotions and don't know any other coping mechanisms. You SI it is what it is .
I also agree with your other point. There are lots of negative coping mechanisms in the world yet lately the world focuses on the SI
Now that you know I am not judging you nor am I out to MAKE you change. I will make some suggestions. Take what works and ignore what does not. Everything will not work for everyone.
1. Look at finding a therapist experienced in self injury and working to show you new coping mechanisms. Why I say experienced is I had some that would make me sign contracts that I would not be able to see them after I SI'd. What that did for me is make me fell like crap when the emotions got too high and I would hide what I did or end up in hospital as I would stuff the emotions until I was suicidal.
2. Pick one emotion/situation you want to learn about and figure out how to handle. Break it down into the smallest goals that you can. You want to make this doable. For example: I want to go shopping but am scared. My steps may be : 1. eat breakfast 2. shower 3. get dressed. 4. figure out how to get to store 5. make a list 6. get to store 7. walk in store 8. do shopping 9. go home As you can see this is down to the smallest goals and helps make it not so overwhelming.

[mogrann]

Darn it posted before I was done.
Try using some self soothe skills when you are in high stress/emotion. What things do you like doing? I have a safety box full with things that help me out during those times. It has crayons, markers, coloring books, puzzles, puzzle books, lotions, candles, craft supplies and more.
AGAIN you are not bad. You are using what you have to cope and that is okay. When you are ready you will learn other coping mechanisms. Judging yourself is doing no good.