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Jenna profile picture
Things no one tells you about Self-Harm: Trigger Warning
by Jenna
Last post
 August 3rd
...See more Everyone mentions the same things when they talk about self-harm. This is what I wish someone told me about self-harm before I fell into its tight gripping claws. 1) It's not only the cuts/bruises/burns/scratches that you have to hide. You have to hide the bloodied tissues, the used band-aids, the band-aid wrapper, and the thing you used to harm. 2) When you shower the dried blood drips out of your band-aid and down your body creating little dark red, almost brown, colored streams. It scares you at first because you think it's opened again. 3) It becomes an addiction. It becomes the only thing that helps. 4) It eventually doesn't help anymore but you keep doing it in the hope it will. 5) Your body will scar and at first, you will like it but eventually, you get sick looking at them. 6) On a bad day, you run out of space. 7) Your band-aids will soak through your jeans or top after a shower and make an obvious square or rectangle patch. 8) They start to smell bad if not looked after. 9) You constantly think about them. 10) Your sleep will hurt and every move you make will too when they are fresh. You act as you like it. You don't. 11) People will never take it seriously enough. 12) They itch like mad whilst they heal. 13) You eventually get frustrated if it has no effect. 14) You don't cry when you do it. You feel nothing. Not. A. Thing. 15) It's so so so hard to escape it. 16) It isn't beautiful. It isn't a fairy tale. It won't help you find love. It is a monster that ruins lives. Please think of all these things before you hurt yourself. You don't want to. I sound like a hypocrite because I do but trust me, you don't want to fall down the dark hole that I and many other people are already in. Put down your fist, blade, lighter, cut your nail short, and get help.
ASilentObserver profile picture
Shine Bright: I am SH-free for ____ Days
by ASilentObserver
Last post
 July 13th
...See more Well done! 💪✨  (Number) days free from self-harm is a significant accomplishment.  Please take a moment to acknowledge your strength and resilience and celebrate with us. Here are a few points to reflect on and celebrate:  * What helped you stay strong these past few days? Was it a specific coping mechanism, a supportive person, or a personal mantra? Share your tips to inspire others. * What positive changes have you noticed since being SH-free? Maybe you have more energy, better sleep, or a renewed sense of hope. Reflect on the progress you've made. * What are you looking forward to in the future? Use this milestone as a springboard for setting new goals or focusing on activities you enjoy. * Write a message to your future self: What words of encouragement would you tell yourself for the days ahead? Start sharing with us. We believe in you. 
ASilentObserver profile picture
Self-Harm Awareness Week: A Letter of Self-Kindness
by ASilentObserver
Last post
 March 12th, 2025
...See more Hello everyone,  This week, from March 6th to 10th, we are dedicating efforts to raise awareness about self-harm [https://www.7cups.com/forum/selfharm/WelcomesIntroductionsIcebreakers_253/SelfHarmAwarenessWeekHealingThroughSelfCompassionConnectionMarch6th10th_348138/]and foster a safe, supportive space for healing. Our theme, "Healing Through Self-Compassion & Connection," explores the importance of understanding, empathy, and practical tools for navigating difficult emotions. This exercise is part of it, and I hope you all try it.  We invite you to participate in a meaningful exercise: A Letter of Self-Kindness.  It is your safe space to express *any* feelings you have, whether positive, negative, or somewhere in between and focus on being kinder to yourself in your words. Please know there are no rules here.  You need to be honest, be vulnerable, and be you.  It is more about connecting with yourself and fostering a more mindful and kind relationship with yourself. You can do it in two ways:  1. Take a piece of paper and pen and write a letter to yourself. And let us know if you did it here in this thread and how it makes you feel.  2. If you are comfortable sharing your letter with us, you can share it here in this thread, and we all can reflect and further discuss it as you feel comfortable.   3. Anyone can do this exercise, and it is not limited to the ones who struggle with SH.  Some tips to get started * Address Yourself with Compassion: Begin your letter with a gentle and kind address, such as "Dear [Your Name]," or "To My Heart," or "To the Part of Me That Needs Kindness." * Start by acknowledging the challenges you have faced. You might write something like: "I know you've been going through a tough time," or "I see the pain you're carrying." * Write words of encouragement and support to yourself. Remind yourself that you are worthy of kindness and compassion. Whether you choose to share it with us or keep it private is entirely up to you.  We are simply here to encourage and support you on this journey of self-kindness and acceptance. Who's ready to write their letter?  Let's begin
Paigesoccergk profile picture
IDK
by Paigesoccergk
Last post
 56 minutes ago
...See more Why do so many people think sh is for attention or learned off of TV. Its not its because I feel like no one cares enough to realy try to help me. I dont want to have ugly marks on my body. But I do because it hapened. because it hapens. I dont want to but I ont know what els to do i dont feel like its a big deal because no one has told me its wrong or that I shouldn't or that I deserve better and that I deserve help. No one who knows me or realy cares about me has said that. I dont know what this is for or about but if you relate thats great.
blackfluff profile picture
I feel like an impostor …
by blackfluff
Last post
 2 hours ago
...See more I don’t really know why I want to get vulnerable in front of all of you but I wanted to talk about this evening . So I’ve been scarifying myself for I think 2 years but I’ve been biting myself since I was 8 (I’m 16) when I wanted to show my emotions because it wasn’t really a thing I would feel comfortable doing in my family not that they were mean to me but I always wanted to not be someone that needed much attention because I feel like my siblings needed it more than I. my parents are always fighting and sometimes( but rarely) it would reach a point of no return where my father had to live somewhere else and my big sis would take me to her room and put a video to distract me or when she was no longer living with us she would come pick me and take me to my other sister’s place . I don’t really know why I talked about all of this while I wanted to talk about a few hours ago , I’m finally getting here . So I’ve been thinking about an event I would attend on Saturday with friends and out of nowhere all of my old habits started to resurface like I cut my thighs until it was covered in blood then I wiped it off with a cloth while pushing hard on it then I opened my Listerine bottle and pour it over my cuts . I guess the story time is done thank you all for reading my thread ♥️♥️ i also wanted to excuse my English I’m actually French and I’m very tired so it may contain a lot of misspelling.
cheerfulKiwi1776 profile picture
Self-harm help Monday 6
by cheerfulKiwi1776
Last post
 7 hours ago
...See more Welcome everyone to the 6th Self-harm help Monday we are having! I hope everyone is doing great. How was your week? Every Monday, reply with your 3 'W's in the comments: 1. ​Win: What is one small victory you had this week? (Even if it’s just 1 hour clean, or using a distraction tactic). 2. ​Wave: Did you face a heavy wave/urge this week? How did you ride it out? 3. ​Word: What is one encouraging word or piece of advice you want to leave for the person who comments after y​ou? Lets set out rules now: • The Buddy Reply Rule: Once you post your update, please read the comment right above yours and leave them a message of encouragement, a heart emoji, or a supportive thought! • The Support Rule: Please be supportive to one another! Avoid unnecessary advices. Show empathy!  Our reminder: 💡 Reminder: You are not what other people say you are. You are not what other people want you to be. You are you. I hope everyone is doing great. I cannot wait to see your comments on the porogress you guys made!
quickwittedPear4489 profile picture
I caught myself
by quickwittedPear4489
Last post
 14 hours ago
...See more Ive bene clean from hurting myslef for about 3 years now i just hit three eyars not too long ago fastforward ive had a really bad strain of anxiety and insecurity I didnt know how I was spiraling out until I caught myslef almost breaking my streak One thing that stopped me was the promise I made to myslef and eveyone around me, I still replay the look on my friends face when she saw my scars she was so worried and we cried for hours we talked about everything we could do and be doing whenever it gets scary We did a thing were we gave each other our perfumes and when we got anxious we could spray them around the room it helped me relax and think of the people I care about One things that also helped me was coloring we did really pretty flower designs on my hand and arms and leg we did little flowers or turtles or really beautiful little sketches Another thing I did was a Playlist of music that always kept me clam and easy to distract myself Alot of the methods I tired within this moment didnt work for me and it was scary so I reached for my journal it kept me busy and it scared me in a odd sense because I didnt think I could do it It took me awhile to overcome ttgat It was scary not kno9wmg if I could do it [http://awhile.to]
Imunsureof profile picture
Relapsing again
by Imunsureof
Last post
 1 day ago
...See more I'm not sure how to start this but i relapsed again after being a week clean. Sometimes i think if there's even a point in trying to stop it anymore as it's my fifth time relapsing. It's like whatever i promise myself or try to do i can't do it. I don't want to get any of my family involved in this because i don't want them to worry about me and getting help elsewhere is kinda hard because i don't see or can't really point out a reason for having these thoughts and acting on them. I'm lost.  Sometimes i think if i should just let it all go and end it..
Blue077 profile picture
12 july
by Blue077
Last post
 2 days ago
...See more I'm scared to relapse again. But I want to. But that's not a problem. I feel good for a while, except for the 10th of July. But I'm still good. I wish I could travel with Marceline to other universes. And we would be lovers. We have so much in common. I want to run away with her. Far, far away. To places where no one can find us. Maybe a sunflower field. Just love. Thinking about it, I guess Glam was the trigger for my relapse this year. I saw him. I saw his family. I saw his narcissistic father. I saw his family treating his badly. And I saw his arm. I was already bad during that time. Then I got even worse. These scars are all from this year.
charmingPine9831 profile picture
Streak
by charmingPine9831
Last post
 3 days ago
...See more 1 whole months gone just like that I hate myself I thought I was healing but I never was
hhhhhh04 profile picture
Not exactly self harm I’m not sure where to ask this
by hhhhhh04
Last post
 Sunday
...See more I’ve never physically hurt myself on purpose, but sometimes when I’m hating myself too much I imagine hurting myself even though I know I would be too scared to actually do that. Recently the things I’ve been imagining have become more detailed it’s confusing. I’ve heard of passive suicidal ideation but never the self harm equivalent of that, and I’ve never heard of anyone experiencing the same thing I am. Idk why I do this and I don’t know how to stop. I don’t know if I’d be able to tell anyone in real life about this.
pinkiepie1724 profile picture
tried everything
by pinkiepie1724
Last post
 Sunday
...See more TW This is a more vulnerable post for me. I havent found a way to quit yet. Its breaking me. My mom feels powerless and frankly so do I. im going to let my therapist know. I've had phases of being able to hold off more, and im thinking ill be able to get back to that. I know this isnt forever. this isnt me. but I dont know wtf to do anymore. I have tried so many things. Something about this just sucked me in.
sensitiveLychee9350 profile picture
What if (TW - self harm)
by sensitiveLychee9350
Last post
 Sunday
...See more Trigger Warning - Self harm and ***  What if I waited one more second, What if I didn’t take that pencil sharpener at that exact moment, What would you have done? Would you have actually hurt yourself? Would it all be my fault, I don’t care if you’re mad, I chose to save you, Because I knew if I didn’t, You would’ve gone too far. I don’t care if you never speak to me again, because I still would do it, Even if I knew you’d be mad. I knew if I didn’t send that email, I may have never seen you again, So, I’m glad I did, I would do it again if I could, Because I knew without that email, You would have done it;  That's true. I have already lost 2, So I knew, I couldn’t lose you, I knew, You wanted to. When I took that pencil sharpener away, You gave me these eyes that had me filled with guilt, Your eyes told all of what you planned to do, But I knew you would regret it, I knew you would. But I knew if I gave that pencil sharpener back to you, I’d be the reason you could.
elka1ska profile picture
Down again
by elka1ska
Last post
 Saturday
...See more I want to do this. Maybe I want something more, too, and I don’t even know why. I’m surrounded by great people, especially one person I live for, but then I start thinking about it again. Just when I tell myself that things will be okay after almost four years, something comes up that I end up mulling over for weeks on end, and all my progress is lost. It doesn’t even help me anymore to open up, talk about it, and stuff like that. Not even to the one I’m here for, and that’s what’s destroying me the most.
neonMaple1666 profile picture
MY LIFE 😭💔
by neonMaple1666
Last post
 Friday
...See more I started self harm after falling into depression when I was 10 years because I just want to live without overthinking which was because of my family issues, loneliness, verbal harassment, bullying and everyone has humiliated me, even my family.👶💔 I really feel sad because I know the emotionally scarred person always stay sad, even after healing the scars will remain within.I never want that but I must always stay accepting and strong 🫩😭💔

Hello, and welcome to the Self-Harm Recovery Subcommunity! It’s great to have you here, and we are proud of you for making the first brave step in reaching out for support. This is our supportive, safe and friendly environment, and we are glad to have you here 😃. Feel free to direct any questions to the appropriate leader of our community, which you can find at the bottom of the about section. ⭐️

🌟 Feel free to say hello and introduce yourself! Or if you want to just browse for now that is okay too! Take your time. We have several topics in our community such as the goals and success corner, recovery zone, support area and much more! Please use the relevant topic where appropriate so we can keep our community organised🌟

🌟 Please make sure to read through our community guidelines and browse our resources available 🌟

🌟 To join our community leadership team feel free to look through Here for the requirements and apply to join our team 🌟

🌟 Again, thank you for joining our community, and we look forward to seeing your progress on your journey! If you have any questions, please reach out to the relevant leader 😊

Community Guidelines

These guidelines are inspired by some communities around 7 cups! This is so we can adapt our little family to accommodate as many different life experiences and situations as possible. We recognize we cannot adapt to every circumstantial rule. However, we have outlined some of the common guidelines needed for our community. ❤️

✪ Please do not share any graphic images or descriptions of self-harm tools!

✪ Please do not mention the name of any tools used for self-harm in any area of the self-harm recovery community.

✪ Names of methods of self-harm are allowed to be shared in the group support room, but where possible please try to exchange a method name for the phrase "self-harm".

✪ When mentioning methods of self-harm or potentially triggering details of another topic in the forums, please put a trigger warning at the top of the post so people are able to click away from the post if they would like to. Additionally, please try to find an appropriate place within our forums to make your post. Certain areas are reserved for specific content, so please consider this when making your post.

✪ Pro-self-harm content will not be tolerated!

✪ Please be respectful to everyone, members and listeners alike.

✪ Remember, everyone's experiences are different. Please do not undermine or invalidate anyone's situation because it is not what most would consider "normal". We are a diverse community and have people from many backgrounds, so please always be respectful!

✪ General kindness, courtesy, and etiquette are heavily appreciated!

Read the 7 Cups Guidelines