please read the Introduction to Walking this Borderland before this or any other post in this Series. Thank you.
When I feel the compulsion to do something to hurt myself I find it very hard to resist and do something else to cope with the feeling or the desperate need to obey the voices in my head telling me to punish myself.
On the occasions I have a little bit of control, I sometimes say to myself, “Wait 5 minutes. You can do it, but not yet – just wait 5 minutes. ” If I can force myself to wait 5 minutes then when I do harm myself, then sometimes a little of the initial force of feeling has passed and I do it less viciously. I’m hoping eventually I’ll be able to wait longer, little by little, and then eventually sometimes not to self-harm.
I got the idea when I worked with people with eating disorders. One technique that may help people who struggle with purging after eating, is as a first step to delay a few minutes after eating before purging rather than doing it straight away. Then you can try to make the gap longer and longer and in this time, with support of a therapist or carer, try techniques for acknowledging and coping with the awful feelings and thoughts that are contributing to the compulsion to purge.
I’m new to doing this technique to delay self-harming. I think it’s working a little bit.
Ginny xx
Dignity Beyond Trauma 
I happy to hear this. It’s the same with other addictions. Alcoholics take it “one day at a time”. They can have a drink tomorrow, but not today. Hopefully you can delay it longer and longer.
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That’s so interesting Cathy. I did not know that is a thought that alcoholics also find useful to cope. One day at a time. Yes that’s very important. After all, we are living one day at a time. It is enough to give this one day. Sometimes we can only give this hour, on the very bad days. I get through like that sometimes but it’s easy to lose sight of it. You have reminded me. Thank you x
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You reminded me!
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🙂 x
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