Celebration
Unofficial Check in post guys!
Resisting SH is awesome. I know a lot of us (myself included) count the days free form SH and even make goals for recovery. I was wondering about everyone else's goals and journey.
My therapist described it like a trail. We take SH so many times, it becomes this well-worn trail. Our feet take it without even thinking. It's wide open and safe and familiar. But to quit, we must forge a new path. It's a better bath, but it's hard. We must cut down the tree branches, clear away the thorns, etc. It's a fight to make a new path. When something triggering happens, we must choose which path to take. The easy familiar path that leads somewhere we dont' want or the harder, struggling trail that leads somewhere amazing.
A relapse is not a failure. Rather it is a wrong turn. There will be many other opportunities to take the harder path.
Today I am 29 days clean (my longest yet). I had 2 goals 33 and 66 days. I have tile in my bathroom. I keep a tally with a dry erase marker (wipes off super easy) on the tile. Every morning I make another tic mark. It's an awesome visual reminder. So when I go into the bathroom to grab the razor, I have to look at how far I've come, how close I am to my goals, and my reaso for fighting. Also, I set prizes. When I hit 33 days, I get to get ice cream with a friend. When i get 66 days, I'm taking the horses out on a trail ride with another friend.
So tell me your tips and tricks and victories and/or goals.
1) Do you have Self harm recovery goals? If so, what are they? A day count? A day in mind to try to stop? An accountability buddy? I want to hear.
2) What's your longest stretch without SH? Do you think yo can break it? (Hint: I bet you can...if only by 1 day, 1 hour)How can you measure your progress?
3) What are some cool treats you can give yourself for meeting those goals?
4) What is one song that inspires you to keep fighting? Keep living? Keep finding the joy?
@BraveAdventurer
Thanks for starting this thread. It has given me some things to think about.
1) I don't have a specific goal. I just take one day at a time. I think I'll make a goal. It will be 3 years Nov. 25th.
2) After I had my daughter I was 11 years self harm free. It felt really good.
3) I'm not sure. I'm not very good at rewarding myself.
4) Right now it's You Say by Lauren Diagle.
@RedHawk6547
Lauren Daigle is the best!!!!!! And that song is gold!!!!!!! Yes!!!
11 years!!!! Wow. That is so impressive. And 3 years! Yes!!!! You can do it!!!! Make some sort of celebration plans....even if it's just buying a special treat at at coffee shop.......and work towards it! Maybe take the day off work to do something fun? Idk.....But please celebrate.
I'm over here aiming for 1 or 2 months. You are such an incredible survivor. You re so inspiring!!!!!
@BraveAdventurer Hey congratulations! I'm really proud of you :)
@mytwistedsoul
Thank you so much!!! How are you doing? How is your journey going? How can I support you?
@BraveAdventurer You're welcome :) I'm not too bad at the moment - thank you for asking. It - it's been hard at times. I deal with alot of urges and sometimes some influence. I'm about a month clean. It was about six months the last stretch which was a record lol. I usually account for It on my thread but I haven't been sharing awhole lot anywhere tbh
I am really proud of you though - it's really hard some days. You can do it :) soon you'll be having ice cream with your friends
You're pretty awesome - I see the way you offer so many people kind words and encouragement. You do alot of good for people here
Be gentle with yourself and your thoughts
@BraveAdventurer
Hey there :) Hope you're doing well ! I like the imagery of the trail, as someone who likes hiking (and loves getting lost off the trail!) I can relate to it :) I usually use the imagery of a ship to describe my journey. The sea is calm on the good days, land is near (and sometimes even treasure ;) ). On the bad days, you get the high waves and the storms, you have to decide if you're going to push through it or reroute.
1) To be honest I don't really set any goals because it stresses me out when I don't reach them. It's not really a goal but at the moment I'm trying to identify the emotions behind the SH rather than just doing it.
2) Oh I went years and years without SH before it decided to come back. I'd say something like 5 to 7 years, I lost track. I do hope I'll break it some day. I never measure precisely, I go with the flow.
3) Like you I do enjoy ice cream or pizza :) Or I'll buy myself something from the Harry Potter shop near my brother's.
4) Since there are 3 questions, I'll pick 3 songs : fighting = Bird set free by Sia, living = She's in the rain by The Rose, keep finding the joy = Mixtape 2 by Stray Kids.
Thanks for the check-in, take care <3
@Slizzy564
Oh wow 5-7 years. Go you!!!
I get how the goals can seem impossible and be stressful. But I love the identifying emotions thing!! That's so amazing!!! And I bet super insightful.
Omg! What is a Harry Potter shop? I must go there!!! I seriously want this!!!! What house are you? I'm Hufflepuff!
I am not familiar with these songs. So excited to check them out!!
@BraveAdventurer
It was a different time and I had a very different relationship with SH if that makes any sense.
It is pretty insightful. As someone who is very emotion-driven person, it's something that works for me.
A Harry Potter shop is a trap if you love le HP series. It's basically a shop that sells all the HP merch. I could spend hours in it, just looking at stuff :) Ooooh Hufflepuff ! I'm Ravenclaw :)
I hope you enjoy them :) What are your favorite songs ?
@Slizzy564
I love them all!!! Thank you! What is the language???
@BraveAdventurer
Sia is in english, the others are in Korean :) Glad you like them :)
@BraveAdventurer
Oh and I forgot : congrats on being clean !!! I'm proud of you for getting so far, keep up the good work :) <3
1i guess my first goal is one month
2) my longest time without it was 6 months
3) some new art supplies
4) i guess i dont really have a song that inspires me :/
