So how does SI really start then?

[HaloGirl66]

Someone on here asked me when I started cutting, and was surprised when i said 28. but I've been doing some reading and how hair pulling and excessive nail biting can be considered "compulsive" types of SI.

http://wso.williams.edu/~atimofey/self_mut...compulsive.html

and if this is considered SI, is this where I started? Because I've gone thru periods of hair pulling for as long as I can remember.

I'm not sure what the point of this post is so I'll shut up now.

[Ocracoker16]

Someone on here asked me when I started cutting, and was surprised when i said 28. but I've been doing some reading and how hair pulling and excessive nail biting can be considered "compulsive" types of SI.

http://wso.williams.edu/~atimofey/self_mut...compulsive.html

and if this is considered SI, is this where I started? Because I've gone thru periods of hair pulling for as long as I can remember.

I'm not sure what the point of this post is so I'll shut up now.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

HaloGirl, I just read your thread about starting to cut.  I couldn't ever so eloquently communicate what each person wrote about the very real emotional consequences of this behavior.  What is really important is not how old you were when you began.  I wish you would set aside behaviors and switch back to feelings.  How have things been going in the last few months?  This is hard, but you need to ask yourself what changed years of hair pulling to this very damaging behavior.  Don't leave the back door open to these intruders who want to convince you that this is an unavoidable development in your emotional journey to wellness.  Your feelings of hurt are crying out asking you to please give them a chance.  They know how hard it is to hear what they are saying, but they will only increase in number over time.  They need your attention and they want you to reach out to someone to cope with the hurt.  They remember how you have fought the demons in the past and they know you can support yourself without destroying your body.  This is not the easy way out, but it is the only way to land on your feet.

Katie

[crazynotstupid]

There was a thread (maybe on the old board) about all the various forms SI can take.  They are very...er, varied.

Which is why I DETEST the term "self mutilation".

As for age, I agree, it's not so important.  For whatever reasons, the thought processes and whatnot get laid down, things start...and behaviors, well, begin.  And what may seem not so bad evolves (my theory here) until...BOOM, one day you're picking up a razor or whatever.

I've been beating the shit out of myself all my life, doing things that exposed me to harm just FOR the pain, and didn't realize WHY--til I started cutting.  At the ripe old age of 28.

But even so, someone can go a long time without ever doing harm to themselves, and then have so much shit go down that *snap* things start happening.

And we're the ones you never read about in the media.  We're not the epidemic.  Nope, only the pretty teenage girls and the mention that teen boys are doing it too.  Why can't weee get some attention?