Well it has been eight years since I have self injured. Not that it has never crossed my mind, but the tools I gained at SAFE gave me the ability to make other choices. So Wendy, Karen, thank you. Thank you to all of the people that worked with me and for me, and for daring me to challenge my own beliefes about myself.
Suzy
PS. Dylan Dog is up in years but he is doing fine and is laying right here beside me. He gives you a paws up and a good lick.
congrats on your victory. I hope soon that i will be able to go that long with out self injuring. i’m glad you have mastered your skills.
I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered anything, unless you count taking a deep breath and counting, and then using the tools that I was given at SAFE. SI had mastery over me, daily practice and use of the tools gave my back control of my life. But I still wouldn’t say that I have mastered it. I think that I can only claim that when it is not lurking anywhere in the dark recesses of my mind. But thanks to a lot of hard work and the help of the people at SAFE it isn’t a constant part of my life. There is a saying, “just because a bird flies over your head doesn’t mean you have to let him make a nest in your hair.” Well that’s all i’ve learned to do. A thought may cross my mind if I’m really down, but that’s all it is is a thought, I don’t hang onto it any more I just let it fly away. At times that I’ve been struggling I find my alternatives list really helpful, in fact I’ve gotten to the point where I know I’m kind of down because I find myself doing my alternatives when I haven’t even thought of SIing, simply because you learn to skip that step. Either that or the bird flew over your head so fast that you didn’t notice it.
You can do it. It is possable to live a life SI free, and it is a lot of fun too.