reason to quit might trigger

[ninna]

I feel so completely lost. I know no one has all of these miraculous answers that will make it all make sense but I had to ask this question. I have been cutting for 11 years (since I was 11). I hid it until I was in college at which point a lot of people found out at once and I was forced into at least committing to trying to stop mostly by being forced to go to the hospital and threats. Before that, I had no desire to stop, but since then I feel like I have been half living and stuck in the middle. I am trying to stop but I don't want to stop. I am currently in counseling but I don't know if I should continue. I don't want to waste her time and there is a lot of stuff I just can't talk about. And when I'm not cutting I feel so empty. I can find short distractions ( the RYL arcade has been a lifesaver), but I can never get rid of the feelings and thoughts without cutting. What I am asking is as a former or current self injurer why did you stop? I can't think of any reasons to stop other than i think i should because its whats expected.

[skylarks123]

Well, my reasons to stop are:

- I don't want ugly scars for the rest of my life
- I don't want to have to keep hiding my scars
- I don't want to scare my friends or family
- I don't want to accidentally go too deep
- I don't want to be judged for the rest of my life because of a few stupid mistakes now.

I don't know if these are relevant to you but they're the reason that I'm stopping.

xx

[PassedExpectations]

at first i tried to stop for my family, and because they did send me to the hospital... in the end, i stopped because it helped my self esteem, and confidence. stopping self harm was something i could do to prove that i was capable, and in control. it let me have better relationships with other people.