How can I stop feeling guilty for self-harming?

Always remember self harming is a coping method, it's not a healthy one but it's still used to cope, you may feel guilty after doing it and think why did i do that, but each scar has it's own story and its not your fault

Self-harm is a coping method. We do it because it helps us in some way. Thinking about the ways in which self harm has helped you in the past can sometimes help you realize that you did what you had to to get through an unbearable situation Of course, there are healthier ways to deal with emotional pain, but we don't always know these other ways. Sometimes self harm is the only thing we've learned so far that can help. Recovery is a huge re-learning process where we come to find, learn, and practice new ways of dealing with emotions. The fact that you don't know, or didn't know, how to deal yet doesn't make you a bad person. And being in-process of learning and mastering new coping skills, and thus sometimes still harming, doesn't make you a bad person. You are in a lot of pain right now, and you did what you thought would help you get through it. If you want help learning about alternatives, I'd love to provide you with resources. :)

Unfortunately, self harm naturally causes us to feel a lot of guilt, guilt for what we've done to ourselves and guilt for how we're hurting others with our actions. There isn't an easy way to ease the guilt that you feel, other than remembering why you're doing it. You do it because you're hurting so badly inside and it's not because you want to hurt others. You already feel bad enough to be doing it in the first place, just try and take the pressure off yourself a little bit. You can get through this.

I know it's easy to feel guilty. There are so many other people with worse problems, yet you're the one self-harming. You need to recognize that you *do* have a problem. You might not be starving to death in Africa, but you ARE self-harming wherever you live. You should never feel guilty for having an issue that you need help with. It's hard to stop blaming yourself, but it's a conclusion you really need to reach on your own. It's NEVER your fault.

You are fighting a battle that no one outside of you can understand. Yes, no one wants to see you hurt yourself, but you are doing what you feel you need to do to survive, and you should never feel guilty about that. Those who love you want to help you. They aren't trying to judge you or hold your self-harm against you. There is no shame in being in so much insurmountable pain that you self-harm. There is also no shame in letting someone help you navigate that pain, for your own wellbeing.

Think positive, realize you're not the only one, understand that everyone makes mistake and you were doing it out of your sadnesss/anger/ or just feeling lost. Not knowing the key to happiness may lead to self harm.

You shouldn't feel guilty self harm is a mental thing which means you can't really control it. So don't feel guilty

Realize that self-harm is just a certain way of coping with a problem or situation that is to overwhelming for you to handle alone.

You are doing what you need to do to cope. Its ok. You're ok, you are just a human being struggling to keep going. Can I suggest that you try to keep as safe as possible, and do your best to look after yourself in the aftermath of self-injury, both emotionally (by showing to yourself the compassion you would surely show to others in the same circumstances) and physically, by cleaning any wounds, and doing whatever helps you to self soothe. None of us humans are "perfect" , just doing our best to survive in an imperfect world . Best wishes. M.

Everybody has valid emotions, and everybody has ways of coping with those emotions. Self harm is not the healthiest way to cope, but it was the only way you saw fit in the past. There are always ways to learn how to healthily cope with your emotions!