Medications

[suewatters1]

Is there any medication that a person can take that will help a person to stop self cutting.
I take an anti depressant for my depression. Is there another medication I could add with it or just taking a different medication for my depression that will help me from cutting myself?

Is there a certain medication that seems to work better then another?

Thanks

Sue

 

[Halo]

Re: medications

As far as I am aware there are no specific medications that will prevent a person from self-harming behaviour however with the combination of therapy and medication it is possible to get to the root proble of what is causing the self injuring behaviour.

 

[suewatters1]

Re: medications

Thank You Halo. I wasn't sure if like OCD there is a drug that would benefit people who are compulsive cutters.

Sue

 

[Halo]

Re: medications

Your welcome, Sue

You may find the articles in this the Self-Injury Forum to be of assistance in order to better understand the reasons behind the behaviour.

These articles posted here on Psychlinks are particular good The Truth About Self-Harm as well as this one: Talking about self-injury

 

[suewatters1]

Thanks Halo

Sue

 

[Cat Dancer]

I agree with Halo, the combination of meds and therapy will help you.

I am on Naltrexone which I was put on specifically for the self harm and it does seem to help curb the urges, but ultimately dealing with the thoughts and feelings causing the behavior is the best way to go in treating this issue.

I'm 39 and I've been self harming in some way or another since I was about 7 so I know how compulsive it can be, almost addictive. It's a difficult thing to deal with.

Best wishes to you.

 

[Cat Dancer]

I just wanted to add that Naltrexone may not work for everyone. And it takes work in therapy to learn better ways of coping.

 

[suewatters1]

Thanks for your candor Cat Dancer This is all new to me and I don't want it to become an addiction. But I read that interfering with wound healing is also considered self harm and I have been doing that for a very long time so what I am doing know is no different to what I always been doing. If that makes sense.

Talk Therapy is good and I know that most of my problems stem from the way I have been treated at work for 24 years. The toxic environment.
Sometimes taking medication temporarily can help a person to be more focus into dealing with the issues.

Thanks Again for your help

Sue

 

[NicNak]

I use to cut too. My Psychiatrist said it was impulsive compusive episode. I could not focus on anything other than my urge to want to cut. I remember one day at work, trying to fight it. I was trying not to show I was in a bad state to co-workers or customers.

It was an awful feeling. I had to remove myself from work, cause that was the source of where I would get my cutting tool from that day. I had to take extra Risperidal when I got home to clear the racing thoughts.

I think it all depends on what the trigger is for the individual. How the urge manifests itself, either through being depressed, anxious or in my case impulsive urges. That would indicate the best source of relief treatement.