Does cutting for only a few months and stopping make me any less of a self-harmer?

Anyone who self-harms as a coping mechanism is a self-harmer. I went through the same i'd stop for sometimes a year but then go back to it. It may seem like the only solution at times, but there is so much more. Sometimes it's hard to stop but slowly it will get better and you'll find other ways. If on those few months you've used other coping mechanisms maybe you can start switching to those. If you self-harm a lot or a little it doesn't matter all that matters is that your distress doesn't cause mental or physical scars. Sometimes that takes time but don't worry you've got this :)

That is hard to answer. The main issue was the fact that you were self harming in the first places, being it a one time thing, or something that is habitual. It might be helpful to understand why you started cutting at that time. What were your triggers? And then seeing why you were able to stop cutting. By being able to know your triggers, it could be helpful in understanding why you felt you needed to self harm in the first place. It would also be helpful to know how you felt, and perhaps keep a journal. I don't think it should matter if you are more or less than a self-harmer, just that you have a propensity to do so. And that in and of itself should be addressed.

No! Definitely not. Self harm can mean lots of things, and not cutting all the time does not mean you're any less of a self harmer, your feelings and your damage is still just as valid as anyone elses. You shouldn't compare yourself to other people's experiences as everyone is different, and everyone copes with things differently. Just because someone self harmed for longer it doesn't mean that your self harm experience was any less important, and it still may affect you and you may want to talk about the feelings you're having about self harm, even if you stopped self harming.

it doesnt. any sort of self harm is devastating. a few months ago, i would scratch my arms so hard, and i would justify it by saying, at least i didnt cut myself, its not real self harm. the length of time you cut, or the method by which you hurt yourself dont make you less or more of a self-harmer, its the intention in which the action is done. some injuries may be more serious than others in physical after affects, or the time period when it was done, but it doesnt change the lasting pyschological affects that self harm has.

There is no such thing like more/less self-harmer. Wr shouldn't cathegorize people who harm themselves or anyone else. Self-cutting's emotional/psychological effects can endure for a long time, even if it happened only once, however, it is admirable when you stop it as soon as possible. There is not a thing to measure how much self-harmer you are, but if you were able stopped, it is a very good initial step not to be a self-harmer anymore and take care of all the possible effects that might show up in yourself. If you stopped for some months, you are capable

I would say no, I self harmed on and off for years. So if it is something that only happened for a few months, it is something you need to be aware of that happened. It does take away from the fact that it was a habit you used to release something. That is why you need to take the time to learn what triggered the self harming behavior. Once I was able to understand what triggered me to feel the need to self harm, I was able to learn new and healthier coping mechanisms to help we work through my triggered state of mind.

No matter what you do, it is valid. Self harm is an unhealthy coping mechanism and very much discouraged however struggling with self harm, no matter how severe or how long, does not make it or your feelings with it any less valid. Reach out to somebody who can help! There are so many people on this platform who would be more than happy to! Try to use some healthy coping mechanisms. I understand how hard battling self harm is and can be but there are always people there for you. Your feelings are always valid, no matter the context.

Any type of 'stopping' a negative hobbit is A M Z I N G ! And I hope you are proud of yourself!! Self Harm can be hard to deal with, and any type of a habit breaker can help so much!! And instead of labeling yourself a Self Harmer, tell yourself you are a survivor! Any type of self harm is and can be very addicting and hard to stop, it's okay to not be clean but you also don't want to just give up and let it happen. Keep going! Stay strong! I'm proud of you!! :)

In my experience, I found that labelling myself as 'self-harmer' wasn't useful in my recovery. I found that labelling myself as that only made me internalise myself as self-harmer, as if that is me and who I am. Try not to let self harm define who you are. Self harm is just one of many behaviours people choose to use to in order to deal with unbearable feelings and emotions, or to feel something. Now, does it make you less of a self harmer? Every second, minute, hour, week or month that you are able to distract yourself from self harm or to use a more sustainable coping mechanism makes you less of a self harmer. I found in my recovery, it's the little victories that count. Try to not be too harsh on yourself you slip up. What's important is the choices you make every day to break the cycle of self harming. Then one day you'll think 'I don't need or rely on self harm any more'.

It doesn’t make you less valid, it doesn’t matter how long it is done for, it’s still a really unhealthy coping mechanism. But you aren’t a self-harmer, you are so much more and that isn’t part of your identity, please don’t make it that. It starts as only a few months sometimes and goes longer and it destroys you. I speak from personal experience. I am proud of you for being able to stop. Keep fighting because you are worth it, no matter who you are. You aren’t broken, you are healing. Try to remember that. Good luck, there is a light ahead.