Hi sarcophagus.heels, I'm sorry to hear that you're having a particularly rough time at the moment.
Do you cut when you're high/drunk? Or when you're sober? Or both?
Hopefully seeing as this is a new habit you've fallen in to, it will be easier to stop.
When we cut/burn/injure ourselves, our brain releases a surge of endorphins. Just in case you've not heard that term before (which I'm sure you
have, but just in case...), endorphins are neurochemicals in our brain which have a similar effect as opiates, and are released during/after intense pain, strenuous exercise, extreme stimulation (i.e. the "adrenaline rush") and after orgasm. Over time we can actually become addicted to the endorphin release via any one of those stimulating activities. Self-harm addiction can not only be very destructive but also it can be very difficult to break, so it's important for you to recognise this now and to find an alternative way to get relief from the stress you feel.
Personally, I have found that
exercise is the most effective way of not only getting the endorphin "high", but it's actually been scientifically shown that regular exercise acts as a mood stabiliser, kind of like a natural anti-depressant. So it can help you to not feel as depressed in the first place.
In the short-term however, if you are looking for ways to get that feeling of "release" but you don't want the long-lasting and obvious scars/marks, you can do such non-invasive things as placing a rubber band around your wrist and snapping it on to your skin. Or get an ice cube and crush it in your hand for as long as you can handle. These simple acts will produce the same endorphin release as cutting does, but without any scars.
Long-term, and I'm sure you realise this already, you need to find more effective ways of dealing with your stress so that you release the pressure gradually, rather than letting it bottle up until you reach boiling point and do something destructive to yourself. I know it's easier said than done, but perhaps you could do something like yoga or meditation, or start getting some counselling just to chat about things and get stuff off your mind on a regular basis (your college will have a free counselling service), or as I mentioned earlier
exercise is a great stress-reliever.
What do you think hun? Please take care of yourself, you are a beautiful person who deserves to love herself
