Self-Harm Recovery Daily Check-in: Thursday July 9, 2020
Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another topic-based check in. Today, I'd like to talk just a little bit about thought stopping. I've already made a full post about it in detail, which can be found here! This post will be a short summary of it all, for those of you who want a reminder or have not seen the post yet.
Thought stopping is exactly what it sounds like- stopping an unwanted thought using different techniques. This can be helpful when the thought takes you into a spiral of negative thoughts, commonly called the "snowball effect". It's important to mention that thought stopping should only be used temporarily, as we cannot process and understand the root causes if we continuously avoid the unpleasant thought. Thought stopping can be helpful to temporarily distract the mind in situations where we would like to not experience the thoughts. If you'd like to learn more, such as specific techniques, read the linked post here!
1. How are you today? Is there anything you'd like to share with us?
2. Do you think thought-stopping could be effective for you? Why or why not?
3. What's your favourite self-harm distraction?
4. Who's your favourite author and your favourite book written by them?
Take good care of yourselves, and I hope you have a great rest of the week!
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@rebecca947
1. How are you today? Is there anything you'd like to share with us?
I'm very good today! I got up early and I'm very very proud of that because I've been sleeping till like 3-5pm but today I got up at 8:30am!!!
2. Do you think thought-stopping could be effective for you? Why or why not?
Yes I really struggle with overthinking.
3. What's your favourite self-harm distraction?
Hmm probably coloring or artsy stuff like collages and drawing heh!
4. Who's your favourite author and your favourite book written by them?
I love Iris Johansen and the books called "The face of Deception." I also really love Stephen King!!
Take care lovelies! I hope you have a wonderful day! 
@itidc
Hey :)
Congrats on getting up early :) It's nice to start the day with something positive !
Oooh I relate to struggling with overthinking. Sometimes it amazes me how much stuff our brain can come up with ...
Yay ! Artsy stuff is my favorite :)
What's the book about ? I'm curious !
Take care <3
@Slizzy564
Hey! Thank you!!
It's been forever since I read it but it was so good! She has a whole series about Eve here's a synopsis I found online:
After losing her beloved child to a serial killer, forensic sculptor Eve Duncan survives by focusing on her career. The best in her field at rebuilding faces from bare skull bones, Eve specializes in identifying missing children. When billionaire John Logan requests her help in identifying an adult skull, Eve--already swamped with work--tells Logan that she isn't interested. But when he volunteers to donate a large sum of money to a charity for missing children in exchange for her time, Eve reluctantly agrees. Logan neglects to tell her that there are powerful, desperate people who are determined to keep the skull's true identity a secret at any cost. Eve's gut instincts tell her that Logan is holding back vital information: Does the billionaire really believe that he's uncovered new insight into the Kennedy assassination? Or does the skull tie him to a mysterious murder? Eve's wildest guesses don't even come close to the stunning truth that she discovers when she at last studies the restored face. Now she and Logan have proof of a dark secret that could get them killed. And it will take all of their combined cunning and sheer nerve to survive.
Take care as well!
@itidc
Ooooh sounds good !! :)
@itidc
So proud of you for getting up early! Sounds like a great day.
@BraveAdventurer
Thank you! It was!!!
Hi!
1. How are you today? Is there anything you'd like to share with us?
Just average, a bit numb.
2. Do you think thought-stopping could be effective for you? Why or why not?
I hope so! Im an avid over-thinker lol.
3. What's your favourite self-harm distraction?
Procrastination. Seriously, every time I have the urge to hurt myself, I would lie down and force myself to delay the act until the urge leaves :p
4. Who's your favourite author and your favourite book written by them?
I really like Banana Yoshimoto. My favorite book of hers is ‘Kitchen!!
Thanks for the check in! Take good care~
@Hydrangea03
Hey there :)
Feeling numb is hard to deal with. I hope things get better throughout the day !
Oh an over-thinker too ! :) We should start some club or something ;)
You know, I'd never thought of that ... I like you way of thinking about this ! It's like taking two 'negative' things and using them to make something positive, genius !!
Oooh never heard of that book, what's it about ? :)
Take care <3
Thank you @Slizzy564, Im about to go to bed, so hopefully Ill wake up feeling better tomorrow ^w^
Whew, a fellow over-thinker lol!! 🤝
And haha yeah, its a coping mechanism that I found surprisingly worked well for me - who knew that my day-to-day laziness could come in handy?
@Slizzy564 Oh no I pressed post too early!! >n<
To be honest, its been a long time since Ive read the book that Ive kind of forgotten what it was about :p I just remember it was a sweet and short slice-of-life story; I really recommend it hehe
Take good care!! I hope youre doing well! :D
@Hydrangea03
Haha no problem !
Hum I'll look it up then ;)
Everything okay over here, thanks <3
@Hydrangea03
Hope you get enough rest :)
Just goes to show that so flaws can actually be useful !
Good night :)
@Hydrangea03
Yes! Sometimes waiting it out is the hardest but only way. Stay strong!
1. How are you today? Is there anything you'd like to share with us?
I am not okay my scar from the harm is bothering me today
2. Do you think thought-stopping could be effective for you? Why or why not?
3. What's your favourite self-harm distraction?
4. Who's your favourite author and your favourite book written by them?
I am unable to share my truth.
@MoonLightStone
Hey !
I'm sorry that your scar is bothering you. Is it the scar itself that's bothering you or that fact that people can see it ?
Don't get me wrong, I don't like people seeing my scars but in a way they are your battle scars. They show that you're fighting and that you're still here to tell your story.
Take care <3
@MoonLightStone
Hugs. Sounds like you are really hurting today. I'm so sorry. Seeing those scars is so painful. I've found apple cider vinegar, vitamin E cream, and Palmer's scar removal oil help lighten then. I'm so sorry. But you are more than your body. Be proud of who you are!!
Hang in there. You are strong
Hi people!! Hope you're having a beautiful day ❤❤❤😍
1) At the moment I'm fine, not happy but fine. I don't know if I need to share something but I'll do my uni stuff and stay positive.
2) it would effective because I'll stop the negative perception I have about myself and my life.
3) listening to pop music!! I looove Lady Gaga as you can see and her music makes me feel better in the worst moments.
4) my favourite is the chilean writer Isabel Allende and my favourite book is The House of the Spirits.
@Gagaintheroom
Hey :)
You know what ? Fine is good ! Fine is a calming wind. Nothing too much, just enough. Good luck with your uni stuff !
I'm sorry to hear that you have a negative perception of yourself and your life. I'm not good at this kind of thing but maybe you could list some positive things about yourself or ask someone to help you out with it .. ?
I'm glad to hear that Lady Gaga helps you when you have challenging times ! It's nice to have a safe place where you can just enjoy the music and let the emotions out !
God I'm realizing that I don't know a lot of books x) The House of Spirits sounds cool, what's it about ?
Take care <3
@Gagaintheroom
Lady Gaga is awesome! Music is so powerful. Good luck with the school work
1. How are you today? Is there anything you'd like to share with us?
I'm doing alright. I've been a bit preoccupied with my scars lately, but it's now been almost two months since I last cut and it's getting easier to avoid. But overall things aren't too bad. This is my first post on this thread :)
2. Do you think thought-stopping could be effective for you? Why or why not?
I think to some extent I already do this. A lot of the time I try to switch the thoughts off before they get the chance to persuade me to do something. It doesn't always work and honestly I don't always want to do it, but I think it's effective for brief moments of dangerous thought.
3. What's your favourite self-harm distraction?
Music. Always loud music. Sometimes sad music or angry music, but to just put in my headphones and listen to something familiar lets me escape the world for a while and calm down.
4. Who's your favourite author and your favourite book written by them?
So my favorite fiction book is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, but I've recently been reading some books by a musician I like named Lacey Sturm about her life and her story. I found her books really relatable and they gave me a lot of hope.
@viciimperium
Hey there :)
Hum I understand that scars can be preoccupying, especially if everyone can see them. They can lead to awkward questions and sometimes it's just easier to hide them. I'm glad to hear that overall everything seems to be going okay. Congrats on your first post ;) Welcome to the family !
Oh that's good to hear ! Honestly I have no idea how to switch off thoughts. I'm glad that it helps you even if it's not a fail proof method. If it can give you some peace and quiet now and then, then why not :)
I love music too :) It really takes you somewhere else doesn't it ? Listening to familiar songs is like greating an old friend for me. What kind of music do you listen to ?
Yay, I love Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy too :) The book by Lacey Sturm sounds interesting too ! It's comforting when we can relate to something that someone else has written.
Take care <3
@Slizzy564
Thank you so much for the warm welcome! It's really appreciated :)
As far as music, I really love hard rock/alt stuff. I consider metalcore to be my favorite genre. I relate to the emotions these kinds of songs portray both in lyrics and in music, and I find it really comforting.
But yeah I'd definitely reccomend any of Lacey's books! The Return is the one I read first and she talks about things like depression and feeling suicidal herself. It's amazing to see her journey, and I really relate to her story a lot.
Glad to be joining the community :)
Correction: The Return is also a good book by her, but the one I meant was The Reason lol
@viciimperium
First the Hitchhiker's Guide is a book???!!! I love the movie! I have to find the book!
2 months is amazing. I'm currently on day 18, so 2 months seems impossible. You are so strong. Im sorry the scars are bothering you today. It does seem some days they show up more.
Please hang in there and stay strong.
@BraveAdventurer
Hey there! Yeah you've got to read the book! I don't think I've ever enjoyed a book as much as that one. It is a facsinating and hilarious read. There's actual a few sequels too, so there's lots of it to enjoy :)
18 days I'm so proud of you!! It takes so much to be making a change like that, and I vividly remember being where you're at. Honestly, I've been at two months for almost six months... it's like I can only go about that long before I relapse. But slowly I'm working on stretching the time out, and it seems to be working. I'm glad you're here and I'm excited to see that number grow for you (even if it takes a few tries).
I'm glad you're here, and thanks for reaching out!
@viciimperium
Hitchhiker's Guide for days! :)
1. How are you today? Is there anything you'd like to share with us?
I was getting so stressed out in my office I left and took some self-care time in this cabin. It helped but the shadow is trailing me, and impulses to SH won't leave me alone. I can't face working tonight and am planning to watch a show with a friend, but part of me is like you're just distracting yourself and being irresponsible because you have work to do. But I don't think that is right. And I am having impulses to be unkind to myself that I am not going to act on.
2. Do you think thought-stopping could be effective for you? Why or why not?
I have been telling myself "Stop!" internally for some time, with good effect, but without knowing it was thought-stopping as such. I will look at the others.
3. What's your favourite self-harm distraction?
Journaling isn't really a distraction, I guess. Um - it comes mostly at night, so trying to sleep and willing myself to not get out of bed. I don't really have any good ones. I have a virtual hopebox on my ipad that has breathing exercises and music. My favorite piece for distraction is Civitas Sancti Tui as sung by The King's Singers: https://youtu.be/VXa0JBn1npk
4. Who's your favourite author and your favourite book written by them?
Hard to say. I Loove Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited - the Book (and the Granada TV Series - NOT the movie which I hate passionately). But that is a kind of unique book in Waugh's output. I wouldn't say he is my favorite author. But that may be my favorite book.
@1morday
This is the best live recording: https://youtu.be/Wo8qfyK9c3c
@1morday
Such amazing will power to willl yourself to fight through it. I'm impressed. Hang in there.
@rebecca947
1. How are you today? Is there anything you'd like to share with us?
I'm resilient and fighting. Going through some horrifying stuff between work and personal stuff. Just trying to keep fighting one hour at a time
2. Do you think thought-stopping could be effective for you? Why or why not?
I think so. But it's so hard to do
3. What's your favourite self-harm distraction?
Yoga. Being in nature. Long walks. Being with horses/friends. Coloring. My weighted blanket. Netflix
4. Who's your favourite author and your favourite book written by them?
So hard. I love dystopian, historical fiction, psychology, young adult, fantasy, suspense, etc. I literally can't pick a favourite.
@BraveAdventurer
Hey there !
One hour at a time seems like a good plan to me ! :) You're a strong soul. Hang in there and keep fighting ! We're all behind you, supporting you ! I hope things get better for you soon. Sending hugs <3
Thought stopping seems hard for me too ..
I love your distractions :) How are the horses doing at the moment ?
That's a lot of different genres ! You seem to be a pretty open minded person :)
Take care <3
@rebecca947
Why do you have to ask so many hard questions to answerrrrrr hehe
1. How are you today? Is there anything you'd like to share with us?
I wasn't the best today. I procrastinated a lot and I didn't do any school work except the school work I was supposed to do yesterday and I have a test I need to take tomorrow so I'm just feeling super unproductive.
2. Do you think thought-stopping could be effective for you? Why or why not?
I think it could be effective for me if I put in the effort and try it constantly instead of just trying it one time.
3. What's your favourite self-harm distraction?
Taking a really warm shower is my favourite distraction.
4. Who's your favourite author and your favourite book written by them?
Uhmmm, every author? I love reading so much but I don't have a favourite book or author