#Self harm recovery

[ed-recoverry]

Shoutout to people who relapse quick.

Shoutout to people who try to recover, but it doesn’t ever last long.

Shoutout to the people who want to get better, but they’re struggling to start.

I see so many people comforting those far into recovery who’ve relapsed, saying that it is a normal part of recovery and they will be okay. Which is completely true! But I rarely see that same energy for people who haven’t been clean for long or who relapse often.

It’s hard to get your footing in recovery. Wanting to get better and taking steps to get better are two very different things; one much harder than the other.

Even a quickly failed attempt at recovery is something worth celebrating.

Trying to recover, knowing you probably won’t stay clean for long, and still deciding to try again is something impressive.

The only consistent trait in recovery from anything is relapsing at least once. If you don’t relapse, then you haven’t done the work to heal the cause of your destructive behavior. Relapse is integral to healing.

While it is ideal that these relapses are few and far between, that is something that is just unattainable for some.

I often see comments on tiktok that talk about how annoying it is when someone says “one second clean” or something along those lines, but I couldn’t disagree more. I am such a strong believer that every single second you aren’t acting on self destructive impulses is an accomplishment.

Especially if you’re actively resisting that behavior.

Relapse is normal in recovery. That includes relapses that happen after months of being clean, and relapses that happen within hours of being clean. While you should always strive to go longer and longer without relapsing, any amount of time spent not relapsing is something to be proud of.

Intent matters. Wanting to get better matters, even if you aren’t making much progress, is something to celebrate. Strive to be better, but don’t forget the little victories along the way.

[desultory-suggestions]

If you have to get through the day one minute at a time it’s okay. Reaching the other side of this minute is not only real but inevitable, this anxiety, panic, depression, insecurity, jealousy, or any other feeling will pass. It’s okay if you can’t see that as a possibility, because even in your worst moments when it feels infinite, the time will pass anyway.

[vampirade]

reaching for my colored pencils and stickers

[lousydrawingsforgoodpeople]

gettin there

[swollenbabyfat]

Soft feelings

[chillykitty]

[myfatherwasapredator]

[desi-girll]

TW: don't read if you don't want to know about self harm, but again, this is a positive post because it's about recovery, so nothing very explicit... but again, please don't read if you might get triggered <3

Page 261 of 366

Dear diary 🧸,

so, today is a big day for me. and when i say big, i mean it in a really really proud way.

because

today, 17th September 2024, marks one year of me being clean from self harm ♡

and i feel like the credit for this one goes entirely to me. last year and before that, my mental health was a shitshow. i was in a toxic friend group, very very insecure of my body, and thought that maybe I'm doomed to be be "ugly" girl. then, of course, the pressure of being a 11th grade science student. i'm sure most of the ones who have been, can relate? parents not understanding, marks not upto our expectations, exams, assignments and what not. so much pressure. but maybe it was just me who couldn't deal with the pressure and got more addicted to something I'd already been doing for 2 years prior to that.

on september 17th, 2023, getting a 4 out of 30 in physics? let's cut again, in the bathroom. believe me, i was addicted to the feel of the sharp compass needle against my skin. to this day, although healed, i still regret the feel of the scars on my thighs. i wish i hadn't ruined God's gift like that. i really do. but maybe it'll go away with time.

so, anyways, on that day suddenly i decided i don't wanna be like this anymore. i wanna heal myself and my relationship with my body. so i just kinda stopped. and trust me, it wasn't easy. so many times, i just randomly started thinking about how good it used to feel, sometimes my emotions were so strong that it was really hard to not start again but now i know how to restrain myself. i know a little bit of self control.

moreover, what really helped in boosting my self esteem was working out. i never that the solution to a positive body image for me maybe to move around and yknow, exercise a lil. and now, what motivates me the most is when i hear compliments from the same people who used to pass comments about my body before. i actually love my body now, or am trying my best to, because unlike one year prior, i'm really fucking fit and healthy now <3

so yes, that's the story and i hope this 1 year can progress to 2, then 3, then 4 and then slowly be a thing i struggled with, in my teenage years but then taught myself a way out of it.

for those of yall out there, struggling with any kind of self destructive behavior, be safe please. i promise you, there are so many ways to heal and recovery is one hundred percent possible ♡

love,

me

[asterias-corner]

lil psa, because some people need to hear this.

self harm scars, no matter how bad- If they’re fully healed? They do not need to be fucking covered or require a trigger warning for your comfort, end of discussion. I don’t give a shit if they are wide, or long, or fucking red- scars can heal differently and change colors in different temperatures. I have scars, and I’m not going to cover up because you can’t handle seeing HEALED scars wider than a hair strand.

[anxiety-banana]

In honor of September being suicide prevention month, here are some ways to help your depressed/suicidal friends:

-"I'm glad you exist" texts go a long way, but "I love that you do (insert specific action)" and "my favorite thing about you is ()" texts go further. Be specific. It's hard to see yourself in any good detail when you're suicidal

-Text them. Incessantly, if you have to. Small "I miss your face" and "this reminded me of you" texts. I've known people who have said "if nobody talks to me/contacts me/takes interest in me today, that'll be the sign to kill myself" and a text genuinely saves lives.

-Help them discover and rediscover hobbies. When you're depressed, the first thing to go is your motivation, and finding things that bring you any amount of satisfaction is important. Offer to volunteer at an animal shelter with them, or put together a little scrap book, or go somewhere scenic to take pictures.

-A lot of suicidal people are known to self harm. If you notice these tendencies (scratching, picking at skin, rubbing or putting pressure on body parts, etc.) you can be subtle about helping them. Hold their hand so they don't scratch, or offer a hair tie to snap against their wrist, or ask to draw on them. All these things are super helpful without being obvious or embarrassing.

-If they're known to be suicidal, you don't have to talk about it unless it's obviously concerning. A lot of people who attempted don't want to relive it, even if they're in a better place than they were.

-Join in on simple self care needs: go out to eat with them, or grab food to eat elsewhere if they're anxious to eat around people, go swimming if showering is hard, have a little sleepover like you were both kids and do all the basic activities (brushing teeth, changing into pajamas, eating dinner etc.) together. This is best if you're really close to the person, but there are also ways to do this if you aren't super close.

If you have anymore, please add them! These are just the ones I've gathered both as the depressed person and the caretaker, but I know there are plenty more.

[micahruiz]

i debuted this drawing i did of myself holding myself as a baby last mother’s day. i’ve since added on the words “it shouldn’t hurt to be a child” written with my non dominant hand. the background is writing i also did with my non dominant hand.

using your non dominant hand connects you to your subconscious self, your innermost self. i utilize it a lot in my reparenting work. i’ve been focusing on this for almost a year now. i celebrated my two years in ACA in april. i celebrated six months self harm free yesterday. 

i still wish i could hold myself as a baby. i wish i could give myself the love and stability my life has always lacked. i’m unfurling myself and making efforts to adequately process the dysfunction of my childhood, my family, my life. 

my mom dying was the relief i’d been waiting for since i was a child. being the child of someone in active addiction, it’s like you’re watching a car crash in slow motion. i watched my mom slowly die for 22 years. and when she was gone, i realized it was the nicest thing she ever did for me. 

she lives on in me in the slurs she called me that i can hear plainly in my head. she is alive in the cigarette ash scar on my arm. she alive is the addiction gene she passed onto me. it is mother’s day, and my mom is dead. but i cannot get her to fully die. 

[Start ID/ A black and white line drawing of adult Micah holding baby Micah. There is a repeated handwritten background that’s hard to read. It begins with text that reads “I am sad for the little me that no one protected. If I could have been there for me as I am now I would take me away and take me someplace safe.” It ends with text that reads “We only accept with we think we deserve. Maybe that changes overtime too.” End ID]

[recovery-is-possible]

I'm 7 years self harm free today! <3

[lousydrawingsforgoodpeople]

[queeraliensposts]

Challenge: it is summer and there is someone with self harm scars who is is wearing short sleeves and shorts, do not comment on their scars. Go!

[69constellationsinatrenchcoat]

Do you guys have a grounding box? What kinds of things do you use if so?

We do!! Though, we call it our sensory box. It's got a large mix of things we've collected over the years (and I do mean years.. we've got a baby rattle in here from childhood, lol)

essential oils and candles for scent based grounding

fidget toys: chewy things, pointy things, fidget spinners, fidget cubes, head scratcher, pop-it, putty

a kaleidoscope

stuffies: including three peas in a pod that we can throw at stuff without doing damage if someone's angry

puzzles: Rubik's Cube, one of those ball pushy things, and a couple metal puzzles

self harm alternatives: acupressure bracelets and rings, silicone slap bands, and some random keys haha

and a letter from my mum about how much she loves us (as a system)

and the box is decorated with things that make us happy!!

[roxy4life]

TW!:S3LF H@RM [Only scar mention! ]

🍭:sometimes when I'm in little age, staring at my scars scares me....

🍬:They look mad and angry like they want to rip me into pieces....

🍫:I wish I didn't s/h...it makes me sad but I get urges I've been 6 months... And I feel like throwing that away.... But I'm trying to fight back the urges to cut my arm into piece's...

🍰:I wanna be little right now but I need taken care of when I'm little... Not all the the time but this time I do...

🎂:Can someone please take care of me while I'm in little age right now...?

Tag list /caregivers: @biscuits-and-such @biscu1ts (same person btw-) @mars-paws @thad-has-a-skateboard69