Can you stop self harm without addressing the underlying issues ?

I think it would be very hard to nearly impossible to stop self harm without addressing the underlying issue as the self harm is I believe an outlet for the pain though temporary and if you stop that without addressing what is causing it, then something else will take its place as the mind is trying to find a way to cope with it. Emotional Pain like an infected wound. You can put a Band-Aid over it and forget about it for alittle while but then pretty soon that wound gets infected, begins to ooze a foul smelling odor. Pulling off that Band-Aid and scrubbing out the wound so it can heal is scary because we know its going to hurt, but it will only hurt for a short while and once we get it cleaned out, the wound can begin to heal and close for good.

Great question! In my opinion, it is possible. Often the underlying issues are more complex and more painful than the urges themselves. Since working on the underlying issues will inevitably take more time, self-reflection, self-love and patience, it may be easier to find a replacement or compromise on the self-harm urges while you are working on the underlying issues. Ultimately - you do what you think is best for your own well-being. Good on you for seeking freedom from this, and I hope you are able to stop both the self-harm and find peace with the issues underneath.

You may be able to stop the PHYSICAL ACT of self harm ie cutting or what ever you do. But in my opinion you will probably REPLACE it with another. Say drinking, or drugs or maybe high risk activities like driving without your seat belt. Until the issue is addressed I don't believe it will go away. It will simply look like something else. GOOD LUCK!

Not at all. In order to recover from ANY problem you have, you must first overcome what is causing your distress/illness. Attacking the root of your problems and discovering what exactly is making you feel a certain way or act a certain way will open up many more doors for you, and many roads you can take to recover. Understanding what your underlying issues are and learning to accept them and move on from them is the biggest part of recovery, and avoiding that can cause you to relapse more often and face more problems along the way. It's going to be hard facing these issues head on but once you do, you WILL win, and your recovery from self-harm will be so much easier.

Self-harm is how some people cope with an issue they find difficult to deal with. If the underlying issue is addressed, then the need for self harm will eventually go away. Running away from the issue does not help.

That seems like a difficult thing to do! I think the best idea would be to try and find alternatives to self-harm. Self-harming is a way of coping with difficult events or feelings, but there are many others! For example, if you tend to self-harm when you are anxious, you could find an alternative (like drawing on your skin, using a brush, etc) to use whenever you are anxious. However, keep in mind that while you work to find alternatives, it is very important to work on the underlying issues as well. This will ensure not only that you feel less compelled to self-harm, but also that you deal with your triggers and your emotions in a more efficient and healthy way. Try talking to a professional or to a trusted friend. Here's a website with alternatives! : http://sirius-project.org/2011/08/16/distractions-and-alternatives-to-self-harm/

No, I don't believe so. You need to figure out why you started in the first place so you can work through those problems instead of suppressing them. Suppressing issues will make it boil over later on in life and it will be much worse when it pops up again later.

Yes, you just need to learn to cope with the issues. From finding a new hobby to realizing that life gets better.

Instead of self harming you should draw on yourself or listen to music. I personally like to draw butterflies or small little animals on my legs and arms when I'm feeling like I should self harm.

Well technically yes you can learn coping skills and eventually quit, but it is insanely hard when your not identifying and trying to solve underlying issues. Cause you won't know the reason why your cutting and it'll be very hard to stay clean and will probably lead to way more relapses. Without knowing the underlying issues for your self harm you'll stay depressed and always have to live with those painful lingering emotions. Making your urges to self harm a million times worse.