Age and SH

crunchycrystal · 02-11-2012, 10:16 PM

I have been doing some research on SH lately and I have come across many empirical works that suggest that SH tends to taper off around age 30 for some unknown reason. I have been struggling with SH for over ten years now and I am four years away from thirty so I found this very interesting. Sometimes I feel as though no matter how long I go without hurting myself the want or need for it will never go away. These findings about hitting 30 almost seem to give me hope for the future that one day this will stop and my brain will no longer be wired this way, but then again research has been wrong many times.

I wanted to get other opinions on this. What do you guys think about the idea that once people enter their 30's SH tends to stop?

~Grace~ · 03-11-2012, 02:05 AM

Im not sure about statistics etc....but my harming started after I was 30, and its still happening. I buck the trend I guess lol.

imperia · 03-11-2012, 02:09 AM

My sh got worse in my 30s . And now at age 47 i still go to therapy and still struggle with sh . Good luck i hope it gets better for you

sapphire hearts · 03-11-2012, 12:44 PM

I'm a bit away from 30 yet, but I don't think age has much to do with SH - pain is pain, whether you're 14 or 46.

I hope things get better for you hun. If you ever want to talk, PM me :)
Katie x

Stellata · 03-11-2012, 07:44 PM

I started when I was 27/28.
Though I am a nearly a year free, and have had gaps of up to a year or so of being free inbetween.
I'd not read about SI before doing it, either.

Ballerina123 · 03-11-2012, 08:32 PM

I'm in hospital right now and there are a few over 30 self harmers here right now.

I have also read that it is less prominent once a person reaches their 30s. I could be to do with hormones, life changes (marriage kids and careers are usually in a different priority by 30) or just thy people get over it/manage to recover by 30.

MH in general is very hard to predict. It's not an exact science ever so maybe try not to dwell on it and keep working on your recovery xxx

HildaOgden · 06-11-2012, 06:57 AM

I'm 38 and started self harming when I was 25. I'm still self harming now.

My consultant psych thinks when I hit 40 I'll be a lot better because then the BPD symptoms seem to get better then, in his opinion.

I don't think reaching a certain age makes much difference.

It's all about the individual.

krismas985 · 08-11-2012, 07:41 PM

I started when i was 14 or 15 and stopped a couple years ago.. i look at it as an addiction and treat as that. I know that it is instant gratification and im at the point in my life where i dont want my problems over flowing onto my son. he is now 3. I know that it shouldnt have taken as long as it did for me to confront my issues but it took having him and caring about him more than myself to realize to keep him safe and happy I must take care of me too. I am 27 now. I punched a wall in jan and broke my hand. Id say thats the last si i have done. Now thats not saying I dont think about it... because the thoughts run through my head almost everyday. Its my addicition to battle and I will not let it win anymore.