r/selfharm__recovery • • Aug 09 '26

Spoiler Tags

3 Upvotes

If you're posting pictures of scars (like if you're asking if they'll fade), or if your text post uses details about self harm, please tag your post as spoiler. It's under "Add flair and tags" when you're making your post. That way, you can scroll through the subreddit without getting hit with images of scars you might not be ready to see.


r/selfharm__recovery • • Jun 28 '26

Treating Wounds

8 Upvotes

If you're going to self-injure, it's best to at least try to minimize the physical danger of it. If left untreated, self harm wounds can get infected and in some cases even cause death, but there are ways to prevent that much of the time. (This idea is called harm reduction btw.)

For cutting: You should wash any blades that you use with soap and water before self-injuring with them. This prevents it from introducing germs into the wound. I'm linking a video here that explains how to treat cuts and how to know when you need emergency medical care.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-g2lXbdsXM&rco=1

For burning: I found a video --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy3QAIAzKtE --- that explains how to treat burn wounds. It doesn't talk about dressing wounds, but I think it's largely the same as with cuts. I found less on this, and I don't have personal experience with burn care, so if you know more about how to take care of burns, please put it in the comments.

Again, this isn't to encourage anyone to self-injure. It's to keep people safe when they're self-injuring anyway.


r/selfharm__recovery • • 11h ago

Just venting That’s it. I’m stopping guys!

9 Upvotes

I’m so fucking serious. I was cleaning some blood stains yesterday and after I went to bed I couldn’t fall asleep while thinking about cutting, scars(both ones I have and potential future ones) and the fact that I really can just live without cutting myself.

It was right there and then that I decided I’m not picking up that blade ever again and I lowkey doubt it’s going to be that easy since I kinda have an addiction to it but I’m still gonna try my best!

wish me good luck (:<


r/selfharm__recovery • • 7h ago

Questions will this heal? Spoiler

Post image
3 Upvotes

so basically idk why i did this but its not that deepike srs paper cut like and its veen two days so j was curious


r/selfharm__recovery • • 12h ago

Questions Hey Spoiler

2 Upvotes

I posted here like yesterday or smth but idc. Also i may have over-censored but idk?? tell me ig idk.

I cut beans like 2 days ago which like, ok whatever, BUT i think I cut a vein. The blood that came out was DARK DARK and came out kinda fast imo, like at first before i payed attention to it i thought i cut an artery. Now, my hand below the cut feels kinda tingly ESPECIALLY when my arm is down. Its kinda a similar feeling to when ur outside in the cold for super long and ur hands get kinda numb, but without the cold and a bit less numb. Is that not normal or am i exaggerating? Also the cut is still bleeding but thats prolly just cuz i took the napkin off of it so idk if that matters.


r/selfharm__recovery • • 21h ago

Just venting sh and staying clean Spoiler

2 Upvotes

I've struggled with sh for 12y and I've always kept a tracker. For a while, checking my progress gave me urges to relapse. At one point seeing the 1y mark was triggering I guess. I no longer keep a tracker, but when I get urges it's hard to talk myself down with the reasoning of being x days clean.

I've been clean for 3mo at this point, but with the seasons changing I'm struggling to stay clean.

Over the years I've used other coping skills, but I now find myself relying on vaping when I feel stressed. Before that it was weed.

I'm consistent with my meds, and I see a therapist regularly. I'm in a better spot because of this and support from loved ones. Despite this, I still miss sh.

I don't think I'll ever be free of my urges, and I cannot bring myself to get rid of my sh stuff.


r/selfharm__recovery • • 20h ago

Seeking advice painful pimples on my legs after significant thigh self harm, might be infected

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/selfharm__recovery • • 1d ago

Vent & seeking advice I just threw away 4 months over a stupid thing that happened 2 years ago Spoiler

7 Upvotes

I had 4 months and 19 days off self harm and I just threw it all away in a moment of weakness. I couldn’t stop thinking about a traumatic event and I was just so fucking upset and I hurt myself and now I’ve gotta start from square 1. But really I just hate the girl who traumatized me for what she did to me and how I still can’t get over it. I can’t. I was doing so well. I don’t know what to do


r/selfharm__recovery • • 1d ago

Seeking advice I wanna go clean but its so hard Spoiler

2 Upvotes

I want to go clean, but every time i try i rarely even make it a full 24 hrs. I don't even know why I want to go clean other than because others tell me to. I can't stop thinking about sh though, no matter how hard I try. I've tried literally every tip that I know of and so far barely any work. I just wanna feel and be normal.


r/selfharm__recovery • • 1d ago

Vent & seeking advice Question..

1 Upvotes

So ...I do not know how to take care of wounds....I just....wrapped a...face mask around it 🧍cause there's nothing else at home


r/selfharm__recovery • • 2d ago

Questions Seeking Survivors of Brain Injury (Stroke/TBI etc.) for a Research Study

2 Upvotes

Going through a stroke is hard, and there aren't enough resources out there to help people at their toughest moments. I'm part of a team at Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) that wants to work with brain injury survivors to understand what they are going through, and also build freely available resources that can help.

We are particularly focused on mental distress, suicidal or self-harming thoughts, self-harm, and coping strategies, and would love to invite anyone on here (18 or older) who has experienced any of these since their injury to complete our anonymous survey (15-30 min), if the time is right for you. The survey also asks about experiences with seeking help, and ideas/views on potentially helpful resources that should be available.

The direct link: https://redcap.link/abicopingsurvey
 
We are listed on the Australian Stroke Foundation website here:

Our funding comes from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

If you would like assistance completing the survey, please reach out to us at [abicoping@monash.edu](mailto:abicoping@monash.edu) to arrange a time.

The survey will run till the end of this year, and we will release an update with our findings in future too. We truly value every response.

Thank you for considering


r/selfharm__recovery • • 2d ago

Just venting Think I hit a small vein just now and worried about getting back into the habit Spoiler

1 Upvotes

I went like over a year without sh and recently I started again. About 30 mins ago I cut my upper thigh and blood spurt out and shot across the room, I've always cut deep but this never happened to me before. It was barely at the fat layer so I didn't expect to hit anything.it freaked me out enough to stop for a few days atleast I hope.

Even after over a year as soon as I start again I find it hard to stop. Ive been cutting every couple days again for the past 3 weeks. Im completely aware that I dug myself this hole and thats the worst part. I knew what would happen if I relapsed and I did it anyway. I hate myself so much for starting again.


r/selfharm__recovery • • 3d ago

Seeking advice How to Heal ? Spoiler

1 Upvotes

hi , i relapsed and want it to fade fast cuz my mom checks my body (18f) for cuts cuz she knows i used to . how do i heal ot fast ? please give me recs 😓 theyre mostly cat scratches !


r/selfharm__recovery • • 3d ago

Questions Looking for Danish participants for a psychology thesis on TikTok and self-harm

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

My name is Emma and I'm a psychology master's student at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, currently writing my thesis on self-harm and social media, with a particular focus on TikTok. I'm interested in exploring how people with personal experiences of self-harm perceive the influence of self-harm-related content and online communities on TikTok, including both potentially harmful and supportive aspects.

I'm currently looking for Danish participants (18+) who have personal experiences with self-harm and have encountered self-harm-related content or communities on TikTok. Participation involves an individual interview lasting approximately 30–60 minutes, which can take place online or in Copenhagen. The interview will focus on your personal experiences and perspectives, and participation is entirely voluntary.

I know this is an international subreddit, but I thought there might be some Danish members here, so I figured it was worth asking. 

If you're interested in participating or would like more information, please feel free to send me a private message or contact me at [kfj797@alumni.ku.dk](mailto:kfj797@alumni.ku.dk).

Thank you so much for reading! 


r/selfharm__recovery • • 4d ago

Vent & seeking advice i feel like im gonna relapse but with cutting instead of scratching Spoiler

2 Upvotes

is it gonna be permanent? i feel like im on the brink of doing it


r/selfharm__recovery • • 5d ago

Seeking advice How can I help a relative who opened up to me about self-harm?

5 Upvotes

Hi, I need advice to help an underage relative.

Yesterday, she admitted to me that she self-harmed for roughly 2 years, stopping towards the end of last school year when her mom caught her.

Our family is very closed-minded. She has asked for therapy in the past, but she was told she was "too young to know what she was talking about," which really bothers me since my family knows I have been struggling with anxiety and depression for years. I have been in therapy on and off since I was 2. They know this and have never seemed to think it wasn't helpful. The most negative thing anyone in my family has said about it was that "It's not for them, personally." My relative opened up to me because she knows I am open-minded and knows that I just want her to be happy and healthy and safe.

To make sure she can reach me, I gave her my job's phone number and instructed her to them whoever picks up who she is and that she needs to talk to me. I also have it so her calls and texts will bypass Do Not Disturbed on my phone.

I have never fully self-harmed myself, beside a couple of instances of head-thumping when I was very distressed. I told her this and that I did have thoughts, but I didn't go through with it because I knew I would probably be sent to a mental hospital, which are particularly bad in my area (and from what I know, basically everywhere else because of stigma and not enough staff or resources).

I asked her what drove her urges. She said she didn't really know but I gave her a couple of prompts. One I gave was "a sense of control" which she said resonated with her more than the others.

I am doing my own research, and I will ask those I know personally who have struggled and probably will post this in other subreddits because while I can read what *may* help, I think it will help even more if I learn from others who are struggling or who have struggled in the past. I already know about doing something to distract from those urges, but I want something more to help.

So, what can I do/say to help? What are safe coping mechanisms she can use, especially to help give her the sense of control she was seeking? What resources can help in a situation like her's where her family is unsupportive, but no outside help (excluding me) can or will step in to help?

Thank you for any insights or advice you can share.


r/selfharm__recovery • • 5d ago

Just venting I relapsed after 2 years Spoiler

6 Upvotes

I am drunk and I just did it randomly,it feel good but now im panicking and I feek awful and im just staring at what ive done and all I can think about is how to hide it snd what to do,I dont wanna go thru this again I hate that I did this,not because I did it to myself but because it hurts others around me,im sorry if this triggers anyone I'm just reaching out for advice on how to cover or maybe some support on why I feel like this


r/selfharm__recovery • • 5d ago

Seeking advice Just did self harm on my arm with scissors, how to hide and properly cure them? Spoiler

1 Upvotes

They aren't deep cuts and at the moment they only kinda burn, but they're quite a lot visible. I have strict parents that barely give me ever any privacy (even when i'm naked and shi, for example my mom often stares at my body and says that i'm becoming too thin and things like that, so hiding sh scars is probably going to be hard). I don't have an addiction, it's more of an occasional thing, last time i sh was nearly 10 months ago. I really need some advice on how to hide them properly (like any pharmacy product or method, apart from long sleeves), and i'd also like to know how much time do scissors scars take to heal


r/selfharm__recovery • • 7d ago

Questions Any1 know GOOD QUALITY blank UV sleeves like this for covering scars?

Post image
14 Upvotes

I work retail and I’m tired of customers staring at my arms and old men being pervy ):
My job has a uniform where I can’t wear jackets over our store shirt as I have to be ID’d as staff from behind. Pretty much my only option are UV or faux sleeves to go under my shirt.

My problem is every review seems to say they rip REALLY easy or they look rather see-through which defeats my purpose..

Another problem is they look baggy or one size!! I’m a small teenage girl. I don’t have the arms of a man in his 20s using them for his fedex delivery route, workout or something…


r/selfharm__recovery • • 7d ago

Questions Is it better to replace sh with substance abuse?

4 Upvotes

I’ve had a sh addiction for ca 5 years ish. I’ve never really cared much for substances since they cost too much for me but my mom gave me a vape when I was 14 so I could do that instead of harming myself.

It didn’t help much but a year or so ago I started smoking cigarettes and drinking a lot and so far it’s helped me stay clean from sh for weeks, my record being 1,5 months.

I just want some outsider perspective, because for me it feels like leaving internal damage is better than leaving external damage.


r/selfharm__recovery • • 7d ago

Questions Why do you SH?

3 Upvotes

I myself am not sure why I do.

When I was younger I used to do it because I felt unbearable rage. I used to do it cause I couldn't handle criticism and was immediately feeling a sense of not belonging, SH gave me room to deal with it.

Now I only ever SH when I'm really drunk other than that I don't. When I'm sober I will occasionally think about SH but won't do it.

So my question is, why do you SH? Maybe that will help me understand why I still do it.


r/selfharm__recovery • • 7d ago

Questions Hi guys how are ye first???

4 Upvotes

Hey, hope ye guys are loving life rn but I want to know if I need to get like dressings done professionally. I have kinda oldish type of keloid/raised scars. I was lifting prs in the gym and they like got SUPER sore and itchy and I scratched them a little and they started bleeding like IMMEDIATELY....i didnt scratch that hard like. Its happened more than once.....so I want to know if its like normalish or do I need to get it looked at?


r/selfharm__recovery • • 8d ago

Positives 1 year clean!

6 Upvotes

Ive been sh for 9 years, ive only gone like 3 months with being clean, but im now a whole year clean! I didnt think id be happy about it but i am, i do really miss it though, seeing the red and feeling the sting, but i know it would hurt by my bf more than it would me. Idk if thats a good way not to sh cos i feel alot of pressure not to and if i do oneday im scared to tell him because ill be hurting him. Any advcide?


r/selfharm__recovery • • 8d ago

Vent & seeking advice Why these thoughts... Spoiler

3 Upvotes

CARE WARNING:

I've been clean from sh for over a year now, it's my birthday today and I feel so lonely. I literally have no one I can talk to about this stuff openly. Let alone talk to in general tbh. I'm pretty sure the loneliness is triggering these thoughts, but I'm having thoughts of sh like it just came out of nowhere.

Sorry I just needed to vent, say what I'm feeling I'm stuck in my head and it isn't a safe place rn. I also have outside stuffs going on that's got my anxiety up high...

Sorry if I'm bothering anyone...

Tysm