Does it ever get easier?
 

I'm pretty new to this site, so I'm not exactly sure how this works. I've been able to go six months without SIing in the past, and it's been almost two months since I last slipped up. But does it ever get easier? I thought that as time went on I would think about it less, be triggered less. But I still feel like every day is a fight, and I'm getting tired. I've learned healthy ways of coping, but they're all harder and less effective, and I want more than anything to be done with this forever, but I can't imagine how that will happen. I don't want to go back to where I was, but I'm afraid I won't be able to hold out. Does anyone have any advice? Or can anyone just tell me that it will get easier?

Hi there, it kind of gets easier and it kind of doesn't I'm afraid. For me I had 15 years SI free until quite recently. Because of some big life changing stuff I have resorted back to good old faithful SI, so right now, no its not easier when the urges come, but I guess I do have some life experience and some responsibilities that I didn't have when I was younger that does help to a point.
I have gone back to therapy, that would be my advice to try and kick it for touch this time round.

Good luck, stay safe
JK

It does get easier with time... but it can come back if you're not careful, just like any addiction. I hope that makes sense. You just have to take precautions against it coming back once you've kicked the habit/addiction.

No one ever said that being healthy was easy. In fact, that's probably why most people in most societies aren't healthy. Because it's not easy, it's not quick, it's not always simple.

Welcome to RYL though, and please feel free to post and ask questions and advice when you feel that it is warranted!! :) It's a very welcoming, good community here, and I have made some amazing friends on this site. I hope that you do too. *hugs*

It does and it doesn't. Haven't self harmed in close to 8 years and the urges don't come as often as they used to, but in a way that makes them harder to deal with because you get used to them not being there.

Don't get discouraged, just take it day by day.