Drawing on yourself?

tips on how to cope: dealing with your feelings, dealing with the consequences of self-harm in your life. share your ideas and maybe pick up some new skills, too. you don't have to want to stop to learn something new here.

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artichoke
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Drawing on yourself?

Post by artichoke » Fri Nov 19, 2004 4:36 pm

Does anyone else get comfort from drawing on yourself? I was having a really frustrating time in class on monday night. I felt really really wound up and tense. I was clenching my hands, grinding my teeth. I ended up drawing a black X on my thumb and it was very comforting. I've actually ended up re-drawing it every day this week (including about an hour ago).

I dont' know why this is so comforting for me. Any thoughts?

artichoke

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Post by EllemyshShade » Fri Nov 19, 2004 4:55 pm

Yes, actually! I think that drawing helps you because it is letting you "reclaim your body," in a way. I know my SI many times used to be about control. I also take comfort in doodling on myself. :)
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Post by GrassHopper » Fri Nov 19, 2004 6:24 pm

I draw in the lines on my knuckles with red pen helps alot of the time
There's always some reason to feel “not good enough”
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction, oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins

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herebedragons
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Post by herebedragons » Fri Nov 19, 2004 6:46 pm

Yeah I used to do that a lot. Drawing on jeans was kind of good too. I don't know why it works, maybe it helps you focus, maybe it's a somewhat simalar action to SIing. At any rate it's great you were able to find a good nonharmful coping mechanism. And thanks for posting this, I had forgotten about doing that, haven't done it much since I was in high school, I might throw this in my bag of coping tricks.
Let me think about the people who I care about the most. And how when they fail or disappoint me, I still love them, I still give them chances, and I still see the best in them. Let me extend that generosity to myself.” — Ze Frank

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herebedragons
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Post by herebedragons » Fri Nov 19, 2004 6:47 pm

Yeah I used to do that a lot. Drawing on jeans was kind of good too. I don't know why it works, maybe it helps you focus, maybe it's a somewhat simalar action to SIing. At any rate it's great you were able to find a good nonharmful coping mechanism. And thanks for posting this, I had forgotten about doing that, haven't done it much since I was in high school, I might throw this in my bag of coping tricks.
Let me think about the people who I care about the most. And how when they fail or disappoint me, I still love them, I still give them chances, and I still see the best in them. Let me extend that generosity to myself.” — Ze Frank

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Post by splitimage » Fri Nov 19, 2004 7:04 pm

Yes, I do that too. I found that when I was first stopping SI it was the most helpful thing I could do to keep me from SI'ing.

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Post by aroobixcube » Fri Nov 19, 2004 9:49 pm

i draw on my body what i think so i dont have to permantly hurt myself after so many scars. there not nice things, but they release the anguish i have on myself.
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Post by Bathelina » Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:54 am

I do that too. I don't nkow why but it makes me feel... better. Maybe it's because it's my body and by drawing on it myself I am claiming it. It's strange, but it does work, and recently I've found myself drawing on everything at school. Especially me. I draw on my books, pencil case, hands, - everything.

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Post by Zebraseal » Sat Nov 20, 2004 1:39 pm

Yeah, I even used to do that long, long before I'd ever SI'd. Red lines never worked for me even if many people say they do, but a big black marker with which to write on myself is good. I sometimes write "LEFT" on my right hand and "RIGHT" on my left, because that somehow sums up the feeling of wrongness I get. I know it's silly but it works for me, and it doesn't hurt.

Um, but there is the danger of blood poisoning. All of you aware of that? It's very very rare, but if anyone of you use a permanent marker on yourself and see a line that "draws itself" under your skin along a vein, growing day by day, see a doctor immediately, ok? Because that's dangerous.
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Post by pink_flower » Sat Nov 20, 2004 3:41 pm

i sometimes draw on myself with red pen, it helps me control my urges sometimes which is good
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Post by thatonechick » Sat Nov 20, 2004 7:03 pm

I draw over my scars with a red pen sometimes.

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Post by Angl06 » Sat Nov 20, 2004 10:14 pm

I draw on myself and it helps a lot. I just stop worrying about w/e is bothering me. I never really thought about it w/ SI though. I remember reading something about drawing on yourself or using fake blood to help urges. I thought that was weird just b/c it would make me want to SI more. But drawing on myself does calm me and comfort me

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Post by artichoke » Mon Nov 22, 2004 2:58 pm

Wow, really interesting insights from everyone. I can definitely relate to "reclaiming your body". Now that I haven't re-drawn my "X" in a few days, when I look at that spot, it seems bare. I have my class again tonight, but I feel a little more relaxed today. It's good to know though, that I have a way to cope if necessary.

artichoke

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Post by nirnaeth_arnoediad » Mon Nov 22, 2004 8:46 pm

Hey, I just found this place and this is my first post!

I used to draw a cross on my knuckle in black pen. It helped.. I have no idea why... sometimes I used to press really hard with the pen so the skin around it got all red... if I ever get a tatoo thats what it would be!

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Post by Zebraseal » Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:17 pm

Hello, nirnaeth_arnoediad, and welcome! Have a welcome cow: :moove:
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Post by Tamrick » Tue Nov 23, 2004 12:09 pm

Hi and welcome to the board. I never really drew on myself, but I certainly scriblled on paper a lot. I also used to draw black and red crosses and write all sorts of words usually on top of one another. It was quite soothing.
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Post by Eowyn » Tue Nov 23, 2004 8:45 pm

I don't draw on myself as often as I write on myself. I write the words that I would cut on myself if I SIed in red pen. They sum up how I feel about myself at the time. Sometimes I draw lines. I can definately relate to the idea of it being to reclaim my body. Sometimes it stops the urge to SI and it's very soothing.
I want an arm that doesn't bleed...
Instead of crawling on my knees and feeling scared
Won't back down- Kato

With you I'm washed as white as the snow
And all crimson stain becomes just a shadow
You know I would be blind without you
So light up my way to find my way home again
All the way- Delerious?

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Post by nirnaeth_arnoediad » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:11 am

ooh a welcome cow! thank you... i drew the cross again today.. have no clue why it helps.. i'm kind of frustrated cause my friend broke my elastic band yesterday and I can't find another one! i need it to cope at home but he was right to break it cause i using it as an excuse to SI in school which i hadn't done before... i got a really low grade in a math test so i snapped the band really hard for each percentage that i should have got which was alot so my wrist was really red... so since i haven't got that anymore i've been drawing on me all day.. gets harder in the evening though.. but its been 3 days and i don't wanna give up now...

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Post by i_have_a_secret » Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:39 am

as long as it looks like blood i find some comfrot in it. if i find the right pin od marker it may hurt a little dpending on the sharpeness.
i_have_a_secret
______________________________________
Part of me-linkin park
Wanna cut it out of my soul
And just live with a gaping hole
Hang my head low 'cause it's part of me
Ya hardly see right next to the heart of me
Heard of me the routine scar
New cuts cover where the old ones are
I can't stand the sandpaper thoughts that grade away on my sanity
Cut myself free willingly through
Stop just what's killing me

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Post by ninetails390 » Sun Nov 28, 2004 7:48 pm

I draw blue or purple crosses on the backs of my hands a lot. Especially my right hand, cause it's a sort of spiritual symbol to me. And sometimes when I cut myself I'll use a red pen to scratch at my wrist just to give myself the illusion that I'm doing more damage than I really am, so I calm down faster without badly hurting myself.
Stained Glass Life
~*~*~
I watch from a distance
As my life is shattered into pieces,
It crumbles down before my eyes
And leaves no traces of what it once was,
But is broken glass not still beautiful?
Can crumbled stone not be put to use?
If I place the pieces right
And leave design to greater forces,
Then I’ll become the artist
Of a life more beautiful than before.

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