I fell back into SI last Friday, my last event was last night. I told my closest friend about this and he freaked. Not a shocker. I was clean from SI for ten weeks. Ten! He set me back into reality, making me face the fact that he can’t always be there for me and that it’s my turn to be there for me because I won’t always have someone there to help me. It is hard to hear that, but it’s the truth and I’ve been struggling with injuring for over four years. I don’t blame him for setting me in my place. After I had that conversation with him, I had this idea. A prevention booklet. I wrote myself ten questions that I have to answer thoroughly if I’m craving. After answering those questions, I have twenty alternatives of injuring. I need to choose one and write why I decided to use this alternative and if it helped at all. I’d have the supplies with me, such as bracelet making supplies, a sketchbook, my iPod, and whatnot. So if I ever do crave, I have the alternatives fingertips away. Does that sound like a good idea? Another one that I have that I’ve been using for the past two month is every week I make a new bracelet for being clean, if I relapse, I take all the bracelets off. Does that sound good too? I need opinions.
This is an excellent idea! I wish I had thought of something like this. Also, I was given a trigger/cause sheet to fill out when the need arises to SI. It’s basically the same thing that you’re doing. The sheet has ‘What are you doing, What is causing you to feel this way, where are you, did you give in to the craving?, if so, why? If not, what did you to to prevent harming?’
This is an awesome idea! I hope it works for you. Help is real, Hope is real. recovery is possible.
gdaem@live.com
I think thats an awesome idea!! Seriously, I’m going to try that too 🙂
These ideas are PERFECT!!!!!
I am in the same place as you…self injury was a part of my life for four years, and I found myself in relapse situations sometimes ten weeks or 3 months in. I once messed up 7 months of no injury.
Alongside the alternatives, you may want to grab the book “Bodily Harm” by Karen Conterio….you can find it in the psych section of your local bookstore, or on amazon.com. It’s A GREATTTTT resource and it helped me learn a ton of stuff that has proven useful to me. I am currently 13 months through with injury and I’ve learned that it’s all about having alternatives and having people to talk to, knowing you are never alone, and setting goals.
You’re on a great path, keep going with your recovery.
all the best, <3 rescue
wow, @rescue is possible x0
I am so proud of you!
<3