Have the urge to self harm after almost a decade of recovery?

Having urges after so long in recovery can be hard on us - and can be overwhelming or intense even. Can you notice something that could've triggered them lately, some stressful situation in your life? Self-harm is a way to cope with difficult feelings, emotions or experiences.. so if you're getting urges again, could be you're having some difficult feelings or something in your life that's making you struggle in some way. If you can't notice anything, that's okay - sometimes it's hard for us to pin point what's making us struggle. Also, it's okay that this is happening, and the fact you're noticing it and asking about it, it's good! That's the best thing you can do, so I'm glad you asked here. Can you remember any healthy coping skills that helped you in past, with urges to self-harm? Those could help you now, and also self-care because if you are dealing with difficult feelings or experiences, it's always good to put our needs first - just for our overall well-being! Is there a friend you can contact, or do you have a support system you can talk to? Maybe someone that has helped you through this recovery and you feel can understand, or a listener on 7 Cups you can go to and talk, when the urges come. We're here for you :)

That is okay, having urges and feelings is okay. It doesn’t mean you have to go through with them or find a way to quiet them down. You will get certain urges and yes, even after recovery as you are perfectly human. Just try to remind yourself that you have not done it for a decade, that is a huge accomplishment. You can hold on through the urges if you managed to stay clean for such a long time. You are strong enough. If you feel like something is triggering it or you can identify when the urges will come up, make sure you don’t ignore it and let it become more persistent and instead contact either a professional or people that are familiar with your past regarding self harm and talk to them about it. Share those urges and feelings, it might reduce the chances of you acting up on them.

Even after recovery, our brain can still always have those thoughts of relapsing, or even very dark and negative mindsets. These are totally valid, and I understand where you are coming from. It makes you really strong for reaching out and being vulnerable enough to share this question with us. I can't exactly tell you what to do, but I'd suggest for you to try and reach out to some resources that have helped you stay clean during these past few years, and focusing more on those healthier coping mechanics. It is tough, and it will be a long journey, but I know that everyone is capable of feeling better one day or another.