Disturbing thoughts of self harm

[Anonymous]

I sometimes get these really weird/crazy/disturbing thoughts of ways to harm myself; like swallowing a bunch of razor blades, jabbing a knife into my chest etc. I have never acted on thease thoughts and I don't think I ever will but the fact that I think it freaks me out Sure my life isnt perfect but hell, I do have stuff to live for.

the thoughts make me scared, why am I having them and how do I stop them?

[VileKyle]

This is nothing to ignore. This is exactly where it started with me before I really was ready to hurt myself. My advice is to not seek advice for this online. Get professional help while it's still ideas and not actual compulsions. The earlier you get help, the better off you'll be.

[Nick9]

Hi, welcome to the club. I was also told that these thoughts were not normal. You know if they are serious, if it seems appealing. I had similar ones, but I knew that if I had decided to do it I would have chosen a different way. With me, it was part suicidal thoughts and part curiosity. "How would it feel?"
Perhaps, if you really don't feel like having selfharming tendencies, try to accept it or ignore it. I would not fight it or concentrate on it too much.
Come here and tell us if you don't feel all right *hug*

[MisterTinkles]

Depending on whats happening in your life, these thoughts could be normal.

People who tend to be very susceptible to stress, anxiety, and depression usually have these kinds of thoughts.
It doesnt mean they want to die or kill themselves...its just how their brain is dealing with the issues and problems at hand. Been there, done that.

I would say you need to go to your doctor...and this can be done at your primary care doctors office (or should be able too), so you dont have to go to any specialist for this....
Ask your doctor for a stress/anxiety/depression test. Different doctors use different tests, but usually they are written tests (fill in the blank).
You have to be bluntly honest in these tests, otherwise they dont work.

The test usually only takes about 5 minutes, its not like its a college exam or anything.

Once the test is given, the doctor can then see where your anxiety/depression stage is at and act accordingly.

The best thing you can do is keep yourself busy. If you have a hobby, then do that more often than you usually do. Take a walk, ride a bike, excercise A LOT. even just going to the local mall and walking around a while can help. If you dont give your brain time to sit there and think about how your life is going, then you are less likely to have those images running around in your head. But it also depends on if your anxiety/depression is moderate or severe.

[Rainbowmum]

Under no circumstances ignore this.

You need professional help to get this under control, and have the tools to ward it off before it takes hold of you.

[Anonymous]

to be honest, I get similar things to this.

It happens like a tic, like when your eye twitches, but its in your mind. I think they're called intrusive thoughts, but when I get stressed, I tend to get these thoughts (like sticking a needle in my leg, or shooting myself in the head). They're quite manageable, because a simple movement of my hand or something will stop them.

I'm not sure about your issue, and I can't tell whether its intrusive thoughts or not. Obviously it's best to talk to a professional now, but at the very latest, once you start acting on them (picking up a knife etc.) immediately go talk to someone. These issues grow unpredictably.

[pellaz]

self harm is complex, not caused by just one factor. but if its stress, an you should know, there has to be ways to limit the stress in your life. It is easy to run your life to the limit all the time. Scale back maybe.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice guys, sadly I live in a country where mental health problems are a taboo and help is not available. Also, I have little stress and that which I have is external and not under my control.

I had these thoughts again today while deep frying food... why not stick my hand in the boiling oil?

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the advice and . I have started chatting on a self harm chatroom and am certain that with time I will be able to answer the questions on why I think this way and also to stop the thoughts. I still have a long way to go, but am certain that I wont harm myself or others.

[VileKyle]

I feel happy for you! It always feels great once you start to get help.