For me, self harm was a way of translating frustration into something I can manage. It was too much for me to try and cope with the depressing thoughts and pressure so in order to get release I cut myself. I think it is more down to depression but I can see how it fits in with aspergers - in relation to the inability to properly express feelings and deal with them. I stopped self harming over two years ago. My mum found out and she was devastated. I stopped because she didn't understand the difference between self harm and suicide - how one is used as a coping mechanism and the other is to end everything. She was expecting me to kill myself - I knew I was doing that as a release so that it never came to suicide. I went on medication and started therapy, the meds worked great and the therapy was rubbish, however I still deal with those overwhelming feelings and thoughts. I just have a little better grip on them now. The last time I cut was by far the worst and I actually felt regret after doing it because I made such a mess - that is the first time I felt that. I feel better for having moved on but when I am badly frustrated I still hit things / bang my head. It's just a way of letting out pain. I hope the people that have posted here have either found another way to cope or are staying safe.
06 Jun 2013, 5:44 am
