What are the chances of a Self Harm relapse?

I have always self-harmed and lived a destructive life-style however I havent cut myself in over a year now.

I'm in my last year of University and sometimes when I get really low I start to feel those old urges coming back, it's really frightening. At the moment I keep them at bay by looking at how faded the old scars are and in a few years I might not be able to see any and that gives me incentive to continue not harming.

However I can be very impulsive sometimes and I'm my own worst enemy.

So, any advice on how to avoid a relapse?

Hope everyone's well

xox

[Starlight1287]

I used to self-harm as well and haven't now in about a year and a half.  I definitely understand what you mean about the urges coming back.  I don't know if you're seeing a psychologist, but I've been seeing one for depression, and I've found that has helped me a lot.  One of my problems was a lack of support/understanding from people in my life, having to face and push through my depression alone, and cutting was a way of coping with that when it got overwhelming.  It's made a big difference to have someone I can talk to about everything, so I don't get as overwhelmed.

I think a helpful step is to figure out why you did it - what was it that the experience gave you?  For instance, was it for control, to feel something, an outlet, etc. (those are just some reasons I've heard, I don't mean to say it's necessarily one of those).  If you know why you did it, maybe you can find something else that will accomplish the same goal.

Another tip I kind of hate when it's used as a "solution" to self-harm is to find a lesser way of doing it - the example I've heard is wearing a rubber band on your wrist, and instead of cutting you can snap that.  I hate when people give it as a solution, because it doesn't at all address the underlying issues, and in that sense isn't any healthier.  I can see how it could be helpful, though (depending on the result you crave), as an alternative until the urges are less compelling or gone, and it won't leave scars.

I hope some of this helped.  Stopping is hard to do, especially when you're under a lot of stress (like at school), and I'm impressed that you've been so strong about it.  I myself did have a couple relapses after a few months when I tried to stop in the past.  This time I've been less tempted as more time has passed, and I hope you find the same.  Good luck!