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ASilentObserver profile picture
Shine Bright: I am SH-free for ____ Days
by ASilentObserver
Last post
 Sunday
...See more Well done! 💪✨  (Number) days free from self-harm is a significant accomplishment.  Please take a moment to acknowledge your strength and resilience and celebrate with us. Here are a few points to reflect on and celebrate:  * What helped you stay strong these past few days? Was it a specific coping mechanism, a supportive person, or a personal mantra? Share your tips to inspire others. * What positive changes have you noticed since being SH-free? Maybe you have more energy, better sleep, or a renewed sense of hope. Reflect on the progress you've made. * What are you looking forward to in the future? Use this milestone as a springboard for setting new goals or focusing on activities you enjoy. * Write a message to your future self: What words of encouragement would you tell yourself for the days ahead? Start sharing with us. We believe in you. 
Jenna profile picture
Things no one tells you about Self-Harm: Trigger Warning
by Jenna
Last post
 December 31st, 2024
...See more Everyone mentions the same things when they talk about self-harm. This is what I wish someone told me about self-harm before I fell into its tight gripping claws. 1) It's not only the cuts/bruises/burns/scratches that you have to hide. You have to hide the bloodied tissues, the used band-aids, the band-aid wrapper, and the thing you used to harm. 2) When you shower the dried blood drips out of your band-aid and down your body creating little dark red, almost brown, colored streams. It scares you at first because you think it's opened again. 3) It becomes an addiction. It becomes the only thing that helps. 4) It eventually doesn't help anymore but you keep doing it in the hope it will. 5) Your body will scar and at first, you will like it but eventually, you get sick looking at them. 6) On a bad day, you run out of space. 7) Your band-aids will soak through your jeans or top after a shower and make an obvious square or rectangle patch. 8) They start to smell bad if not looked after. 9) You constantly think about them. 10) Your sleep will hurt and every move you make will too when they are fresh. You act as you like it. You don't. 11) People will never take it seriously enough. 12) They itch like mad whilst they heal. 13) You eventually get frustrated if it has no effect. 14) You don't cry when you do it. You feel nothing. Not. A. Thing. 15) It's so so so hard to escape it. 16) It isn't beautiful. It isn't a fairy tale. It won't help you find love. It is a monster that ruins lives. Please think of all these things before you hurt yourself. You don't want to. I sound like a hypocrite because I do but trust me, you don't want to fall down the dark hole that I and many other people are already in. Put down your fist, blade, lighter, cut your nail short, and get help.
ASilentObserver profile picture
SHA #4: Calming Affirmations for Difficult Moments
by ASilentObserver
Last post
 March 22nd, 2024
...See more Hello all,  Group Support organizing the month of Self-Harm Awareness Week,  the focus will be on discussing general awareness, and support, and celebrating milestones and small steps. This will be an opportunity for all of us to come together and extend our support and compassion to all who struggling with self-harm.  Life throws its curveballs, and sometimes we feel like we're drowning. You might be feeling overwhelmed and lost, and in those moments, the urge to self-harm might arise as a way to cope.   When you find yourself in those moments, having a set of affirmations can help ground you and bring a sense of calm. Affirmations are powerful tools that can shift your mindset and provide comfort in difficult times. Here are some affirmations you can repeat to yourself when you feel overwhelmed or tempted to harm yourself.  * "This feeling is temporary. I will get through this."  * "I am worthy of love and support. I will reach out for help." You deserve to feel safe and cared for.  * "I am strong and capable. I have faced challenges before, and I can face this one too." You are more resilient than you think. * "My pain does not define me. I am more than my struggles." Pain is a part of life, but it doesn't have to control your existence. You are a complex and worthy person. * "I will focus on what I can control, my breath, my thoughts, and my actions."  * "There is help available. I will find a healthy way to cope." Self-harm is not the answer. There are healthier ways to deal with difficult emotions.  * "I am worthy of healing. I will take steps towards feeling better today." Start small, with one positive step towards self-care. * "I deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion, especially by myself. I choose to be gentle with myself in times of distress." * "I am not alone in this. Some people care about me and want to support me through this struggle." * "My worth is not defined by my struggles or mistakes. I am inherently valuable just as I am." * "I have the power to choose how I respond to this situation. I choose to respond with love and understanding towards myself." * "I acknowledge my pain, but I also acknowledge my capacity for healing and growth. I am worthy of healing." * "I forgive myself for any past mistakes or shortcomings. I choose to let go of self-blame and embrace self-compassion." Please know that affirmations are most effective when repeated regularly and with conviction. Find the affirmations that resonate with you the most and make them a part of your daily self-care routine. If you are struggling with self-harm, please reach out for support. You are not alone, and there is hope for healing. We are all here with you to listen to and support you.  If you have any affirmation that you use, please share it with us here. Also, let's discuss and share our experiences with affirmations during overwhelming moments. All thoughts are welcomed.  ------------------------- Other posts in the SHA series:  SHA #3: Role of Acceptance & Validation [https://www.7cups.com/forum/selfharm/General_2451/SHA3RoleofAcceptanceValidation_325495/] SHA #2: "Safe Plan" for people with self-harm issue [https://www.7cups.com/forum/selfharm/InformationandResources_1079/SHA2SafePlanforpeoplewithselfharmissue_323303/] SHA #1: Do you think self-harm defines you?  [https://www.7cups.com/forum/selfharm/General_2451/SHA1Doyouthinkselfharmdefinesyou_324983/]
TealPhotog profile picture
Slowly realizing/ admitting this not just a “bad habit”
by TealPhotog
Last post
 13 hours ago
...See more TW: SH Hello, I know that title may sound like it’s not “real” SH, but please believe me, it is. It is closely related to stress & anxiety. Even when it hurts I have a hard time stopping. I am not sure how to talk about this without talking about the method. I don’t think I have fully admitted to myself its SH, but everything points to that. I am feeling ashamed, embarrassed, scared, and lost. I a hoping to find coping methods & support here.
pinkgirl9 profile picture
help
by pinkgirl9
Last post
 24 hours ago
...See more relapsed after three months of being clean. feeling useless
anonyHuman2290 profile picture
I'm confused.
by anonyHuman2290
Last post
 1 day ago
...See more I don't know if this is regarded as SH but I'd really like to know. When ever I feel immense emotional pain that I can't handle,I usually hurt myself. As long as I'm holding an object, I'll keep hitting my hands with it unknowingly. I actually seems as though I'm in a trance,I don't know when I start doing it and I only stop when someone's able to snap me out of it. Is that considered SH?
determinedSea4370 profile picture
self harm feels surreal (relatable?)
by determinedSea4370
Last post
 Monday
...See more Like I was just standing in my shower, blood everywhere, holding my arm up because it felt like 'Oh, ***, this is it. I need to go get stitches again. And what if I pass out on the way to the hospital?' But, then the bleeding eventually stopped and I will go to work tomorrow like everyone else, like nothing even happened- despite all the scars and scabs under my clothes, I just smile and carry on. Like I'm looking for a dramatic moment of change, for it to be 'bad enough' for someone to tell me it's okay to take a break, that I don't have to keep living like this. But even after I spill so much blood again and again, I still carry on and on and on.  The self harm is the only way I can tell myself that my feelings are real and yes I am in fact suffering badly even if no one acknowledges it, not even myself. I have daydreams about fainting or breaking down at work, but I never do. I want to curl up in someone's lap and have them take care of me. The contrast between the horrors of my personal life and the persona I adopt at work is insane. It's absurd. It's surreal. Does anyone relate?
stormieandpaws profile picture
trigger warning birthday and death
by stormieandpaws
Last post
 Monday
...See more today our birthday we hate birthdays due to sexual abuse on our birthdays as kid and also due to use to get birthday spanks and pinch to grow on but was more like a beating. well today little over 3 hours ago our one best friend called us her dad passed away today. this hit us very hard. due to we know her parents. so fighting thoughts of wanting to self harm to numb the feeling away right now. but we not want to give in to them either why we came online as we just not know what to do about the feeling we are feeling right now at all we will not call the hot line as we had issues with them in past big issues. we can not email counclor at community mental health as that not allowed. so we came online as thought that might help some. but this been hitting us hard since she called first time. it was only 60 min after her dad died and she found out only a few min before that. her parents go to another' state in winter so they not here were we live. also her son in rehab  right now due to binge drinking. so she been calling us we trying to do our best to support her too. we feel awful that we struggling with the thoughts of SH as we should not be. but am
GayBirbsSunflower profile picture
Idk(TW fyi)
by GayBirbsSunflower
Last post
 Sunday
...See more So I’ve been about 20 days clean but before that it was a whole month. I hate when my scars fade but I don’t want people to see them. They make me feel ugly. I don’t know what I’m doing but I’m so stressed and I know it’s bad. welp
ASilentObserver profile picture
Shine Bright: I am SH-free for ____ Days
by ASilentObserver
Last post
 Sunday
...See more Well done! 💪✨  (Number) days free from self-harm is a significant accomplishment.  Please take a moment to acknowledge your strength and resilience and celebrate with us. Here are a few points to reflect on and celebrate:  * What helped you stay strong these past few days? Was it a specific coping mechanism, a supportive person, or a personal mantra? Share your tips to inspire others. * What positive changes have you noticed since being SH-free? Maybe you have more energy, better sleep, or a renewed sense of hope. Reflect on the progress you've made. * What are you looking forward to in the future? Use this milestone as a springboard for setting new goals or focusing on activities you enjoy. * Write a message to your future self: What words of encouragement would you tell yourself for the days ahead? Start sharing with us. We believe in you. 
sleepysalem profile picture
self harm used to cope
by sleepysalem
Last post
 February 11th
...See more hi. my name is Salem. I am a listener here on 7cups and have experience in self harm and self harm recovery. it’s important for us to realize that just because this is a coping skill doesn’t mean you are doing things right. id love to hear about your journey or anything you’d like to say in the comments.
Ana0007 profile picture
Not sure what it is, just felt like letting out.
by Ana0007
Last post
 February 11th
...See more Is it SH when it's just a small cut? A repeated small cut over and over? Nothing that's lifes threatening. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to end the life for i want to live maybe not myself but for my parents. It's just i have never admitted myself it's SH, for what harm could a small cut do? And what scares me the most, is that I never want to stop. It gives me relief when I am stressed, depressed even. It's not very frequent,just monthly once when I have a breakdown. I feel like maybe it will prevent the bad things that will happen. I stopped it actually for more than a month but then I was stressed, remembered I never SH in a month,I wanted to do it and I did. It gave me relief, well sort of. Made my pain less. But then again, does it matter? it's just a small cut, nothing major.
madwonderland139 profile picture
I just don’t understand
by madwonderland139
Last post
 February 10th
...See more I’ve been on and off self-harming since I was 11, I’m now 25. But I just don’t understand how I can go months and months without even thinking about self-harming and other times, it’s all I can think about for weeks, whether I cut or not, I can’t stop thinking about it. I also don’t understand my logic with cutting, like I hate doing it but I like looking at the cuts and having them there, I feel kinda naked without cuts on me. I have a small handful of scars but they don’t satisfy me like fresh cuts do to look at. Am I the only one that feels like this?
StayStrongNeverLoseHope profile picture
Don't go through it on your own, it's okay to not be okay
by StayStrongNeverLoseHope
Last post
 February 10th
...See more Reach out if you ever need support and things get too overwhelming, we care and we will listen <3
convivialCoconut6517 profile picture
I had been clean for a year ☹️
by convivialCoconut6517
Last post
 February 9th
...See more I spent several minutes thinking about what topic, or I don't know what it's called, to write about. Because I don't know what's going on in my head I have had falls and gotten up several times, but when I feel well again I self-harm again and it's all over, And so on But anyway, when you think there won't be any more or that it's all over, you realize that it wasn't true. Speaking of feeling like this is gonna be forever. What I mean is that even if I feel fine and I relapse again, The time that I have been feeling better and without doing anything is lasting longer and longer each time guess it means I'm getting out of this depressive spiral, Slowly, but I'm glad all the same It makes me angry to relapse when it had lasted so long but at least I lasted a long time. Although, sometimes when I relapse and do it again I feel like it lasted a long time but in reality it was not very long. I would like help with one thing; My partner, who has also been through this, already knows what happens to me. It was hard for me to tell him, but he supported me and made me feel much better. But there is something that makes me angry, and that is that I feel as if I had not told him anything. He's still the same as always and it makes me angry, because even though he loves me and treats me as always, which I appreciate, I feel like I don't know and I'm alone. I guess I should know, but I don't want to be reminded all the time either. And I don't know what I want exactly

Hello, and welcome to the Self-Harm Recovery Subcommunity! It’s great to have you here, and we are proud of you for making the first brave step in reaching out for support. This is our supportive, safe and friendly environment, and we are glad to have you here 😃. Feel free to direct any questions to the appropriate leader of our community, which you can find at the bottom of the about section. ⭐️

🌟 Feel free to say hello and introduce yourself! Or if you want to just browse for now that is okay too! Take your time. We have several topics in our community such as the goals and success corner, recovery zone, support area and much more! Please use the relevant topic where appropriate so we can keep our community organised🌟

🌟 Please make sure to read through our community guidelines and browse our resources available 🌟

🌟 To join our community leadership team feel free to look through Here for the requirements and apply to join our team 🌟

🌟 Again, thank you for joining our community, and we look forward to seeing your progress on your journey! If you have any questions, please reach out to the relevant leader 😊

Community Guidelines

These guidelines are inspired by some communities around 7 cups! This is so we can adapt our little family to accommodate as many different life experiences and situations as possible. We recognize we cannot adapt to every circumstantial rule. However, we have outlined some of the common guidelines needed for our community. ❤️

✪ Please do not share any graphic images or descriptions of self-harm tools!

✪ Please do not mention the name of any tools used for self-harm in any area of the self-harm recovery community.

✪ Names of methods of self-harm are allowed to be shared in the group support room, but where possible please try to exchange a method name for the phrase "self-harm".

✪ When mentioning methods of self-harm or potentially triggering details of another topic in the forums, please put a trigger warning at the top of the post so people are able to click away from the post if they would like to. Additionally, please try to find an appropriate place within our forums to make your post. Certain areas are reserved for specific content, so please consider this when making your post.

✪ Pro-self-harm content will not be tolerated!

✪ Please be respectful to everyone, members and listeners alike.

✪ Remember, everyone's experiences are different. Please do not undermine or invalidate anyone's situation because it is not what most would consider "normal". We are a diverse community and have people from many backgrounds, so please always be respectful!

✪ General kindness, courtesy, and etiquette are heavily appreciated!

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Bearainy profile picture
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