Things people have said re your self harm that have helped you in recovery
 

I had self harmed quite badly for me, due to a whole pile of stress, and was really down on myself, my therapist said how my child-mind didn't want me to look like I'd been through the wars. I just felt so accepted and not judged. It helped me to have something nurturing to hold onto that wasn't judging me. I still hold that it times of extreme stress, it's like a safe boundary.

Your turn!

I like this idea =)

For me, there are lots of things people have said, but I have to say that one of the most potent is a simple 'I believe in you.'

It's a good thing to hang onto.

I was in hospital and I was trying to hurt myself with what ever I could find. One of the really nice nurses who made me feel safe came over and took hold of my hand and said "you don't need to do that Jodie. You're in pain, and I can hear you."

Really helped.

One of the nurses asked me when I was in hospital a few years ago why I hurt myself but said it in the context of; I've been there and done what you do and you're beautiful and don't need to hurt yourself. She sent me a text actually, I have it saved somewhere... I'll get it now:

"Hi hun, it's L from the hospital. Hope you're feeling okay and all went well when you got home. Remember that you're beautiful and a great person and ignore anyone who says and different."

Then, quite a few people from university, recently.

"I'm so very proud of you and I love you. I want a family with you but can't till I know your strong enough. I'll be there to help."

My fiancé said that to me, which motivates me to stop :)

My taekwondo instructor has helped me loads. I did have texts from her saved on my old phone but unfortunately don't have them anymore.

It's not to do with SH but I've got one from her that says:
"Make sure you eat" that I look at when I'm tempted to not eat.

And another (it was long so I've missed out the unimportant bits):
"Ur way too hard on yourself babe. We are all different so don't stress if you struggle...everything getting on top of you with you stressing about exams too. Try and relax a little this weekend."

And a text from my boyfriend saying "I know it's hard sweetie but you are doing excellent. Keep trying" that means a lot to me because usually he seems to think it is easy to stop.

I've got lots of other random texts of love and such that are important to me too. Generally just people saying they care about me and that I'm doing well helps a lot.

I showed my counselor my scars and he was quiet, then he asked "Does it [your arm] hurt?" It was just totally unexpected. It just said to me that he cared about me.

Another time, on the phone, he said "Are you safe?" and it just kept running through my mind for days, like some sort of crazy echo. It helped me not cut because he cared enough to worry about me.

My ex, who's now one of my good friends told me how he was trying to quit smoking, and he was like, It's hard but I know what you're going through with your addiction [to cutting]. We can both get past this.
Also, whenever I'm wanting to cut and I text him, he always tells me He believes in me. And that I'm a great person and I'm worth more than that.

When i had to go to A&E for sh i had a nurse who had seen me about 3 times before, when she was patching me up she was asking if i was at college etc. When she let me finally let me go, as she was debating if i was a risk to myself. She put her hand on my shoulder told me ' That i just don't want to see you hurt yourself' Then 'You'll be okay'

I have had a nurse on the ward ask me ' Are you okay lauren? It's just i feel there's something your not telling me, is there anything you want to tell me?' She was really nice.

I can't explain why this helped but it just did.
A nurse said to me, 'Its the people like you that I worry about at night. I wish I could just hold your hand through this.'

And 'Being 'just you' is enough.'

A friend of mine once had a really long talk with me, and what really hit me was this sentence which she told me.
"You're not weak. You're stronger than that and you know it."
Keeps me going. :D

"I believe in you."
"You are strong enough to handle this."
"It's okay if this isn't your last slip-up, just make sure you'll get through every single one, and you WILL, and I'll support you."

''You are stronger than you think'' -- I have this on my whiteboard at the moment after one of my nurses said it to me :)

A nurse told me a very, very moving story about her battle with self harm and her recovery that had us both in tears and I shall never forget it.

And after a suicide attempt my CPN told me that it is not my time to die... it helped.

Not directly self harm related, but to the motivations behind it. During one counselling session, we got talking about feeling like a failure when things don't turn out perfect - one of the main reasons for me. And my counsellor went,
"So what makes you so much better than everyone else that you could be perfect at all? People usually aren't."

It doesn't sound very nice, but it's very true. It put things in perspective for me quite a bit.

I love my cousin and i will listen to her

i was on msn and an old bf of hers popped up i dunno how much its true but it helped he said

you know what your cousin used to cry on me saying she was scared she was going to lose you. That was a big shock for recovery. As i love and listen to my coisin and her hurting just set me up for recovery.

love this thread, but i dont have anything to add...i guess-yet.

"...because I've been that person"

Now-best friend threw that in at the end of a conversation we had about my self-injuring sophomore year. She completely opened up to me about her struggles, I still can't thank her enough.

Awwwhhh thats sweet

My Mentor said "I believe in you"
"I'll be with you wether you are cutting or not"
And "You think you deserve this pain but you don't "

Someone told me to believe in myself as much as I believe in God. May not mean much to a non-believer but my religion means a great deal to me, so this was really special.