self-harm-harm-reduction

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

i cant run this blog anymore im really sorry

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

Hi! Same person who asked about the yellowish scabs… is it normal for them to turn white and soft after getting wet.. even just a little? I’m a little worried and don’t know how to handle this.

Yep its normal for scabs to soften and become lighter when wet. Just continue normal wound care and keep an eye out for infection

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

hi, do you know if you still risk nerve damage with cat scratches/cuts to the surface of the dermis? the answer seems to be yes, but i had a really hard time finding concrete answers from sources i trusted. i scared myself about this and while i turned out to be just fine, i'd really like to know so i can keep a closer eye out in the future if i need. thanks in advance

Hi, there are nerves in all layers of the skin, so yes you can get nerve damage from surface dermis cuts. Nerve damage from more surfaces level cuts will usually be less severe (for example a scar that is numb) but you should still look out for symptoms of more serious nerve damage, like reduced or no sensation, unusual pain, loss of movement, etc.

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

Cut aftercare tips? When I do it I usually just use a paper towel to soak up the blood and then put a bandaid on it. But I feel like I could be doing better.

info on first aid + wound care

paper towel can leave behind fibers in the cut and cause infections, i suggest using clean non fuzzy cloth like off a clean shirt or tea towel or gauze. You should also rinse your cuts out with saline or water before bandaging in case anything does get stuck in there

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

Is it normal for healing styros to look a little yellow/dark on the inside? It’s not abnormally red and it doesn’t hurt much but I’m just a little worried since I think I’ve gotten it a bit too wet. Aka by swimming or showering.

Hi, yellowish or dark red scabbing is normal. The dark part is dried blood and the yellow is fluid from healing. As long as its not bright yellow or the fluid is thick it sounds normal. Make sure you don't have any symptoms of infection tho

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

uhm idk if this is a weird quest but… is there something like. morally wrong with looking at other peoples s/h here on tumblr? like part of me feels bad for doing it but It’s also comforting knowing there’s people who are just like me. idk if this question is appropriate for this blog. I mean I found this blog through looking at specific tags and it’s really helped me!

Depending on who you ask, I'm not a moral authority and your morals are meant to come from yourself not what others say. If you feel bad for doing it theres probably a reason

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

What is the process of getting stitches generally like? I’ve never needed them and don’t plan on needing them, just curious.

Hi, I've only gotten stitches once and it does vary a bit, but here usually how it works

First the cut is cleaned using saline and any debris are removed from the cut. They might numb the area before cleaning, but even if they don't it usually isn't that painful or it doesn't hurt at all.

Then they will numb the cut using an injection or multiple inside of the cut, this is painful and was the worst part for me. Sometimes doctors will refuse people numbing for self-inflicted injuries which is not ok and medical malpractice.

After you have waited for the numbing to start working they will do the actual stitches. It's pretty much the same as sewing fabric except they tie each individual stitch and if numbed properly isn't painful at all. You can still feel the tug of the thread but it doesn't hurt. If it isn't numbed properly it does hurt, when I got stitches there was a small area that didn't numb for some reason but it wasn't that bad.

After you get stitches you usually can't get them wet for a few days. How long they are left in varies on the size and depth of the wound as well as how fast you heal.

If you go to the ER for self-harm they will usually want you to talk to a social worker, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional after any medical issues have been dealt with

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

if your so-called suicide prevention or harm reduction is behind a paywall then it's not actually suicide prevention or harm reduction. that shit needs to be free and accessible at all times to everyone.

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

hi I was just wondering if there’s like… a specific blade that’s the safest to cut with? (obviously with clean and disinfected ones…) but I mean like a specific one. a razor, a box cutter. that sort of thing.

Hi, steril blades are best cleanliness wise (you do need to clean them after using tho if you plan to reuse!), stainless steel blades rust slower, and being able to easily hold and control it is important so a handle can be useful.

For some people a sharper blade can be safer, others a more blunt blade. It's easy to underestimate a sharp blade and go too deep, but they cause less trauma to surrounding tissue so cuts heal better and are less likely to be infected. It is also easy to underestimate a blunt blade and use too much pressure and go deeper than expected, this is less likely to happen then with a sharp blade but they do leave cuts that are slower to heal and more likely to become infected. I've seen different things suggested by different resources but always test how sharp a new blade is first.

The Idea blade would be a scalpel, they are sterile, stainless steel, and designed to be well controlled. But they are also expensive and harder to access and very sharp (pro or com depending on who you ask. Really it depends on what you have access to.

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

Any tips on how to make sure you don’t get an infection while still making sure that it will scar? I’ve always been obsessed with making more scars, to the point of not properly treating my wounds because I’m worried that it will make it heal without scarring. Without stopping my habit (which I know I have to do, but priorities), how can I treat my wounds properly?

Hi, infections are usually caused by germs that enter the wound when it is inflicted, so making sure your tool, skin, and hands are clean helps reduce the chance of infection by a lot. I suggest using isopropyl/rubbing alcohol or something else also high in alcohol for cleaning blades or other tools when you get them (unless they are sterile) + if you reuse them (which you should avoid). You can use something like alcohol wipes, hand sanitiser, or even soap and water to clean your skin before self harming. And ofc wash your hands.

Avoid self-harming in a spot like your hands that is more likely to get dirty. Avoid picking at wounds (and if you do try to clean your hands before and after). Keep wounds covered with clean clothes if you can't bandage them.

Try and do as much wound care as you can, even keeping something bandaged for one day is better than none or even if you don't get something stitched keeping it bandaged is still better than nothing. Having minimum levels or goals for how much wound care you do might help.

If you hit muscle or bone, have arterial or heavy hard to stop bleeding you do need stitches tho. You can't have scars if you're dead anyways.

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

I’m just curious on how to identify the deepness of my cuts. I know how to identify deep styro and beans and whatnot but what I’m wondering if how to differentiate styro from cat scratches? usually the cuts have small blood drops and don’t gape. Other times it kinda gapes open, bleeds more, and I see light when I look in it. Is that styro? or is that just a deep cat scratch??

Hi, terms like styro, cat scratches, etc. don't really have a set definition but generally it seems like people consider cat scratches as anything that doesn't bleed (cuts to the epidermis) and cuts that do bleed but the edges look like they touch and you cannot see the white styro inside (cuts to the surface of the dermis).

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

What’s a good way to clean cutting tools without hydrogen peroxide?

Hi, you shouldn't use hydrogen peroxide for cleaning blades, it can cause rusting. You can use isopropyl/rubbing alcohol (or something high in alcohol like hand sanitiser) or you can boil them

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

hey I know this blog is for harm reduction not completely stopping suddenly, but this blog is the only one I could find that I think would be ok with me sharing this, so. I’m 17 days clean. The most I’ve gotten in so long. And I know from experience that if I break that it only gets worse and deeper and it’ll be harder to stop, and trying to wane off doesn’t help. I just. I need someone to know. I can’t restart again.

Hello, congratulations on 17 days and getting this far 💜 good luck

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

Hey um I haven't cut in a bit but im getting the urge and want to check: I usually clean my blades w comet (A household cleaner w bleach in it) but make sure to thoroughly rinse and dry it before using it again. Is that safe or should I clean the blade another way?

Hi, bleach is corrosive meaning it will damage your blades. I would suggest boiling your blades for ~10 minutes or soaking them in isopropyl/rubbing alcohol (or something else with a high alcohol contents like hand sanatiser)

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

Can't believe im asking this on tumblr because I couldn't find info anywhere else - but almost immediately after cutting (on the hip, shallow epidermis/dermis) the area around where I cut got kind of cold and I felt pins and needles. It's gotten a little better in the last minutes but I wanna know if I should worry about it if it happens again. I have hypermobile eds if it helps at all.

It's not super numb or freezing or anything, and it didn't bleed or hurt much so im not too worried, i just want to make sure I didn't do too much or whatever

Hi, changes in sensation like pins and needles can be symptoms of nerve damage, if you can see a doctor. If it doesn't improve or gets worse you absolutely need to see a doctor, nerve damage can be permanently disabling if severe.

[self-harm-harm-reduction]

collection of useful things tumblr has taught me:

even if you can't fall asleep, laying down with your eyes closed will still rest your body

you don't have to brush your teeth standing up

you don't have to do any chore standing up, from dishes to showering

you don't have to shower with the lights on

if you can't brush your teeth, flossing and a tongue scraper gets rid of plaque and bad breath

if you can't do that, mouthwash kills a lot of bacteria

eating "unhealthy" food is better than eating no food

you can make the same meal everyday for however long you still want it

some pills come in syrups or chewables if you can't swallow them

kids nutritional shakes can be a quick way to get fuel if you can't eat/don't have time

if walking hurts/exhausts you on a regular basis, canes and rollers are for you, no matter how young you are

we have free will—if doing something "out of the ordinary" makes life easier for you, do it

if you have even a dollar to spare, please consider donating to Alaikum's family.

they're a large family at only 10% of their goal to evacuate, and could use any help you can give!!