When can you consider yourself recovered from self-harming?
aeris156
on
Oct 15, 2019
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It depends on person to person, but for me, I considered myself mostly recovered when the urges to hurt myself mostly stopped, and when I DID have those urges, I was able to resist them and do other things. Recovery doesn't necessarily mean that you no longer have those urges, but if you have a healthier relationship to them, that's a good sign. Best of luck!
Anonymous
on
Mar 3, 2015
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Whenever you feel like it :)
There is no set amount of time that automatically puts you 'in the clear' so to speak. Therefore, you are recovered when you decide you are recovered. And if you make a mistake? That is just a bump in the road and you can choose to get back on a healthy path and be "recovered" again as soon as you decide to! Try not to ruminate on it and beat yourself up. Forgive yourself, love yourself, you can do it and you deserve it.
(That being said, if you would really like a solid number, it typically takes around 30 days to make or break a habit.)
aleexxx
on
Mar 5, 2015
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Everyone has there own goals but as a general rule when you get to the point where you feel like you no longer need to rely on self harming to enjoy your life.
AaishaM
on
Apr 1, 2015
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When you see your scars, as stars.
When they make you strong, not hopeless.
When it doesn't hurt....
Anonymous
on
May 28, 2015
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Be clean in 4 months and never start again! I do selfharm, and i have been clean is 3 days :D I'm so proud of myself!
Marin
on
Dec 22, 2015
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Some people say that you´ve recovered from self-harming when you don´t feel the urge anymore, but I think that that´s not true. The urge might come back sometimes, even though you are recovered. What makes the difference is how you deal with that urge. If you can hold it down and if you´re not having a too hard time to keep yourself from self-harm when you´re triggered and never actually have to self-harm, then I´d consider you recovered.
Riss8456
on
Jul 13, 2015
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Self-harming and other mental illnesses are ongoing. Similar to eating disorders you may still always think about it under some circumstances, but I would say that you are recovered when you no longer need that release and no longer act on those desires.
nibcat
on
Mar 11, 2015
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When you feel like you no longer need it to feel better. It doesnt matter if youre one year clean or one day clean, you decide what is success to you
Anonymous
on
Jun 12, 2015
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When you've gone more than a year from hurting yourself and you don't generally get urges to do anything anymore.
Erynn
on
Apr 6, 2015
Self-Harm Expert
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Some people view recovery as an end goal (somewhere you end up) and others view recovery as a process, something you actively remain in. Both are totally ok ways of viewing it! Personally, I view it as a process because I feel I could return to self-harm at any age if I stop using health coping methods and get overwhelmed with difficult emotions. I am in recovery because I've gone a decent chunk of time without harming - more than the gaps that naturally occur in the months I have harmed in the past. So, the time line is very personal. My friend says he is recovered, because he has made his longest goal of 2 years without harming, so he views it differently. There is no 'perfect' way to judge this - it depends on what you feel shows you are in a safe place, using lots of healthy coping skills, and able to get through really hard moments without resorting to self-harm.
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