Ladies and Gents, your input please!
 

Hello all!

I don't know if this is the perfect spot to post this but it's worth a try...

Well, for an English argumentative essay on teenage coping mechanisms, I have formulated the thesis that "Negative coping mechanisms are not specific to certain teen subcultures."

So basically, I'm dispelling myths that all goths are cutters, that all chavs drink constantly, etc.

Do you have any proof of the type for me? I'm going to divide this into questions about various negative coping mechanisms. Please remember that this will be anonymous...unless you are willing to give me interesting quotes I can footnote. Also, the essay is about coping mechanisms, not just your life in general. I understand that some of these questions can be very personal and that you may not want to answer them. That's absolutely fine. Any data is appreciated. Also, if you do not want to answer on a public forum, feel free to answer me at dancing_crimson_tears @ hotmail dot com


Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink?
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use?
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat?
-Frequently or only when coping with something?
-What will trigger you?

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure?
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly?
-What do you do?
-What do you use?
-Does anyone else know?
-What triggers you?

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide?
-Have you ever tried suicide?
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons?

If you have any others, the questions above can serve as guidelines.

Thank you very much for your answers! If you know people in other "subcultures" who might be willing to answer this, feel free to pass it on!

Of course, this is mainly directed at teenage members of the site (12-21 years old) but if any older forum members can connect to any of the topics from their adolescence, I will take that info too! But the overall subject is adolescent coping skills...

Thanks again everyone!

Drink when I can that is not often, Do not do drugs or smoke but tried smoking and weed. Ive tried to commit suicide and I have cut myself for some severe family reasons.

Thank-you...however, how old are you? (Approximately - give me a three year range...and I'll take the middle number for data purposes)

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? Never
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? Never
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Never
-Frequently or only when coping with something?
-What will trigger you?

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? burn
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? no
-What do you do? burn myself
-What do you use? lighter
-Does anyone else know? a couple friends
-What triggers you? Anger, being really sad, or just doing it because it's a rush. A bit of a BDSM in me.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Yes
-Have you ever tried suicide? Yes
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? Yes actually, with my father.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? No. Not for those reasons alone.

This is in accordance to what I can remember when I was 14-18 years old. I'm 23 now, so yeah. Use it as you will.

I'm just going by what I remember of my teen years.

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink?almost every night
-What do you generally drink?vodka mixed with (insert something here)
-What tends to trigger you?life, depression

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use?every other day or every few other days
-What do you use most often? pcp then crank then acid
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?Nope
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?depression
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?people I knew

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? under despite my vain attempts to over so I wouldn't look like I was using
-Frequently or only when coping with something? always
-What will trigger you? everything

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? was, and currently fighting the urge not to become again
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? did regularly
-What do you do?slice, scratch
-What do you use? misc. sharp objects
-Does anyone else know? nope
-What triggers you? extreme depression

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? yup
-Have you ever tried suicide?yup
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? nope

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? my parents sent me, but it did nothing


Good luck on your essay

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? I don't.
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? Never.
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Yes. Undereat.
-Frequently or only when coping with something? Either or. Last time I underate it was when I was I was trying to cope with something. Or sometimes, I do not eat because I do not feel like it.
-What will trigger you? Sadness. General feeling of 'sickness'. Feeling fat. Relationship problems.

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? At least once every month it seems like.
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? On and off.
-What do you do? Cut.
-What do you use? Dull knife.
-Does anyone else know? Yes.
-What triggers you? Sadness. Family conflicts. Relationship conflicts. The 'need' to cut.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Yes.
-Have you ever tried suicide? Yes.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? No.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? No. I see someone for other reasons.

I am 16. Good luck with your project.

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? I've never even sipped alcohol before, as I'm strongly against it and find it vile. If you want to destroy your liver, that's on you.

-What do you generally drink? As stated, I don't drink. I usually only have Coca-Cola or some sort of juice, and the occasional Monster Energy Drink.

-What tends to trigger you? Nothing.

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
How often do you use? I hate drugs and everything about them. They're disgusting and should be done away with, somehow.

-What do you use most often? Since it is technically a drug, though, I usually drink caffeine, but I've never partook in marijuana or anything serious for the matter. Like I said, I despise drugs.

-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? I drink caffeine rather often, actually.

-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? Caffeine, because soda's good.

-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? Shoprite.

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Under eat, but I have my occasions where I'll eat a bit more. Nothing that'd be considered overeating, though.

-Frequently or only when coping with something? Whenever I'm really hungry.

-What will trigger you? Um, I like pizza? :D

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? I have NEVER, EVER tried to hurt myself! I'm a complete wimp when it comes to pain. Plus, it's bloody disgusting.

-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? Never have.

-What do you do? Nothing; the only self-harm I've ever done was when I sat down and watched "Step Up" in theaters with a former friend of mine.

-What do you use? Nothing, unless video games, anime, and writing is considered harmful to you.

-Does anyone else know? Everyone knows I love video games, anime, and writing.

-What triggers you? RPGs.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Nope, I love life and I wouldn't dare throw it away over some trivial means. If I die, I'd rather go in my sleep or, at the very least, go out with a flair; maybe being shot out of a cannon into a wall?

-Have you ever tried suicide? Nope, never.

-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? Lmao, no.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? I had to see a psychiatrist once because a girl in my school lied about me having had "threatened" her life. I was kicked out for a few days and had to get outside help... it was really, really annoying, but I got through it.

For the sake of your data.


Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? Just a small glass of wine with dinner for special occasions, like Thanksgiving.
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? Never
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? I under eat
-Frequently or only when coping with something? All the time
-What will trigger you? Laziness, or apathy? It's simply habit

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? Haven't in almost a year
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? No
-What do you do? Used to cut
-What do you use? Whatever sharp thing was near.
-Does anyone else know? Three people or so.
-What triggers you? Random bouts of overpowering sadness or hopelessness. Those have stopped too.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Thought about it, never seriously planned it.
-Have you ever tried suicide? No.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? No.

Don't be obtuse. Moderate alcohol consumption doesn't harm the liver and in fact has a number of health benefits.

Sorry, I just grew up with an alcoholic father and grew to hate it. Plus, my grandfather died from liver cancer a few years back from drinking too much.

My apologies, didn't mean to offend.

Drink- not to cope with things, only socially
Drugs- not to cope with things, not socially either.
Self-harm- nope.
Eating issues- when I'm stressed and very busy with other things, I can end up forgetting to eat or only eating what's around the house (snacks), but I don't eat/purge/avoid food to feel better.
Suicide- nope.
Psychiatrist- trying to get an appointment with one to help my stress/fear issues, since they're getting to a level where they interfere with my ability to function in society. My own coping mechanisms, of suppressing or listening to music or ranting, are not helping as much as they used to.
I'm 19, by the way, and in my second year of university.

First of all, I'm 18, female, etc. etc.

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? A few times a month.
-What do you generally drink? Rum and whiskey. I like my hard liquor. In the words of Elliott Smith, "...whiskey works better than beer."
-What tends to trigger you? Depression, feeling the need to self-destruct, wanting to get outside of my brain, wanting to lose
self-awareness for a little while.

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? A few times a month...
-What do you use most often? I use caffeine daily (but that doesn't really count, now, does it?) and weed every couple of weeks or so
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? Nope. I need more caffeine when I don't sleep (which is a frighteningly frequent occurrence, but, eh, what-ev)
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? Wanting to lose myself, all of the above reasons
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? My friends.

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? I was diagnosed with anorexia (binge-purge type) when I was 14, was hospitalized at 16, and, although "recovered" have been struggling with impulses and semi-regular symptomatic behavior since.
-Frequently or only when coping with something? Frequently
-What will trigger you? Feeling inadequate/worthless, being frustrated or angry, my mother (a caustic individual, I must say), feeling out of control of myself, being too busy or caught up in schoolwork (a convenient excuse, at any rate), and my ridiculous preoccupation with the Cult of Thinness...

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? Sometimes once a week, sometimes less
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? Fairly regularly
-What do you do? cut, burn, scratch. I pull out my eyebrow hair pretty obsessively, which may be more related to my OCD than anything else.
-What do you use? an X-Acto knife, a scalpel head (which I stole from my father's workplace), a lighter, a cigarette.
-Does anyone else know? Those I'm closest to.
-What triggers you? Intense emotions, especially guilt and anger. Usually it's this overwhelming need to punish myself for doing something that I find unacceptable, something that I'm incredibly guilty about but cannot express why (see: smoking after promising my boyfriend I'd give up drugs or eating a piece of cake after trying to restrict my caloric intake). It's a temporary solution to a permanent problem, it's cliched, I know, I know, but it works.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Yes.
-Have you ever tried suicide? Yes.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? With myself, yes. I plan to die before I'm 50. I just don't see a point in living past that age, really.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? Mreh, yeah, I've been seeing a psychiatrist and a psychologist and a nutritionist for five-plus years now. In my opinion, talk therapy is a load of shit, yet I've gotten A LOT better from pharmacological interventions (hurrah for Cymbalta!)


Mreh. Now that I've opened up a whole can of crazy on these boards, I sincerely hope you don't hate me...

I sent you an email..

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink?
I don't.
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use?
I don't.
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat?
I don't.
-Frequently or only when coping with something?
-What will trigger you?

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure?
I don't.
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly?
-What do you do?
-What do you use?
-Does anyone else know?
-What triggers you?

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide?
Who hasn't? Yep.
-Have you ever tried suicide?
No.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?
No.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons?
No.

Thanks to MINOR THREAT and THE TEEN IDLES, I'm straight edge. I don't drink, I don't do drugs. I have never considered suicide and I don't hurt myself, I don't binge either. I'm 17. There you go.

Bugger. Forgot to mention that I'm seventeen.

Speaking for my teenage self, "No to all of the above."

Things got a bit more interesting later on.

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? Socially: once in a blue moon. Other: none.
-What do you generally drink? Socially: shots.
-What tends to trigger you? N/A

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? Never.
-What do you use most often? N/A
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? N/A
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? N/A
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? N/A

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? I do both, but undereat more often.
-Frequently or only when coping with something? Frequently.
-What will trigger you? Boredom (overeating) or just forgetting to eat lunch/breakfast (undereating). It's not a massive problem, though.

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? Once three years ago, never did it again.
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? Never.
-What do you do? Never since 3 years ago, but I cut myself that one time.
-What do you use? I used a razorblade.
-Does anyone else know? I did not tell a soul.
-What triggers you? Someone very close to me was in the hospital and I was having a very hard time with it. (again, 3 years ago)

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? yes
-Have you ever tried suicide? no
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? no

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? No.


I'm sixteen.

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? I don't
-What do you generally drink? Nothing. I generally have either a soda or juice/milk.
-What tends to trigger you? Nothing

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? I don't
-What do you use most often? When I'm sick, whatever the doc prescribes me. Otherwise nothing
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? Nope
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? I don't
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? Nobody

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Undereat, but it's my own fault
-Frequently or only when coping with something? Neither. I just don't feel like eating at some points
-What will trigger you? Laziness

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? I don't, but there have been moments when I've thought about it
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? No
-What do you do? Nothing
-What do you use? N/A
-Does anyone else know? N/A
-What triggers you? N/A

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Nope
-Have you ever tried suicide? Nope
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? Nope

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? Nope

I'm 18 and male, by the way.

Ah, forgot to mention. I'm seventeen-years-old. :D

oh... my... god... you are the biggest goodie two shoes i have ever met in my entire life

Get the fuck over it. D:

So I'm completely clean. Sue me for caring about my health.

Caffeine is a really addictive drug that isn't to great for your health and there are a LOT of complaints on energy drinks' detrimental effects on the human body.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a drink now and then, as long as you don't get shitfaced on a regular basis. In moderation, alcohol does no harm and not drinking does not necessarily make you any healthier than someone who enjoys the occasional glass of wine. Also, it takes years of binge drinking to destroy your liver.

It's not like I drink tons of it. Mostly it's juices like apple juice, grape, pomegranate, etc, etc, which I usually purchase from the "health" sections of the grocery store.

I'm aware of the detrimental effects of energy drinks. I don't need that pointed out to me. What I meant by being clean and caring about my health was, I didn't break myself down abusing substances or alcohol like many of my fellow teens, reducing myself to some needy, shaky pile of flesh and bone in the end.

I'm so sorry if my being clean offends you. :|

Rock on with your healthy badass self L'Oiseau Noir!

I'm healthy now, save the occasional glass of alcohol. There's nothing wrong with being clean! and the younger you start your healthy ways, the longer you'll live and the greater, happier piece of mind you'll have!

Cheers to you!

Aw, thanks so much. :3

That made me smile.

im bustin your chops a bit dear, no offense meant :D

hehe and actually they've proven small doses of alcohol regularly can kill off slower weaker braincells and speed up the brain ^_^

Pardon, a mild rant about L'oiseau Noir's choice of phrasing.

I have no problem with being 'clean' about one's habits, but describing habits as 'disgusting' feels rather insulting. I drink, usually at least one alcoholic drink, each weekend- with friends, when we are out at clubs or bars or gigs. Use of the word disgusting to encompass all alcohol and all drugs is too general, and suggests that the habit of having small drinks in moderation in strictly social situations is also considered disgusting.
As for self harm being disgusting- it's something that a lot of people have done because they've been under such pressure and faced such immense emotional difficulty that they've used physical pain to distract from the mental issues. Calling self-harm a disgusting habit suggests that those who resort to it because they cannot get help otherwise are weak and stupid (Perhaps they are intimidated by their school counsellor, or the paperwork they'd have to fill in? Perhaps they cannot get help because those causing them such difficulties have threatened them with dire retribution if they dare get help? It's not unheard of, and not even rare)
All this said, enjoy your life. Go ahead and avoid all drugs if you wish- though I'd offer this warning: caffeine is considerably more detrimental to one's physical state than marijuana is. Don't drink, if that's what you want. Don't cut, if you have other ways of coping with difficulties in your life. But please- have the grace not to insult others while you avoid their habits.

Sorry for that, if it's offended. It's just my attempt to explain why I felt the words could have been chosen better. It strikes me that it's not even necessary, in a yes/no answer situation, to go into one's personal hatred of others' habits.
But I've had a difficult day, and my mood has become quite snarky as a result of this. The people around me are loud and brash, so it's possible that my temper is being funnelled elsewhere. I have no wish to get into any arguments with any members of this board, as this is being expressed as a one-time comment, not as a sweeping declamation that should be remembered and looked into and taken as a deep statement of my character.

Drinking
-How often do you drink?
whenever I'm thirsty
-What do you generally drink?
tea, milk, and water
-What tends to trigger you?
Thirst

Substance use
-How often do you use?
once a day
-What do you use most often?
Zolft
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
I forget to take it alot
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
court ordered
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?
Wallgreens

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat?
undereat
-Frequently or only when coping with something?
frequently
-What will trigger you?
distracting myself to forget things, or just for fun with video games which makes me forget to eat alot.
Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure?
never
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly?
n/a
-What do you do?
n/a
-What do you use?
n/a
-Does anyone else know?
n/a
-What triggers you?

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide?
yes
-Have you ever tried suicide?
yes
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?
no

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons?
yes on a bi weekly basis

I had no intention of calling you a bitch, sorry if I gave that impression. I had no idea of your background and how it would affect your opinions, and without this to place them in context I simply found your method of writing to be a little... abrasive. I have listened to far too many people disparaging the habits and beliefs of others without a good reason for doing so, and in my haste assumed from your writing that you might be one such. Again, my apologies if you felt I was calling you a bitch.
As for the personal reasons I found your manner rather insulting, many of my friends use marijuana as a recreational drug, and would not consider using anything 'harder' than that. They are good people, generous and some more likely than anyone to offer shelter to someone in need.
People I know who have cut themselves have often done so because they do not feel they can turn to family or friends- in more than one case, they have been abused by family and are isolated from others who could otherwise be their friends. This does not strike me as weakness on their part, as many of them are wonderfully strong and beautiful individuals. They harmed during particularly dark periods of their lives, do not do so now, and still feel even now that they have friends, support, jobs and good homes, that what they did was the only thing they could do. Often these are people who suffered from the abuse of an alcoholic, heavily drug-addicted or otherwise malfunctioning parent, but they are past that now and enjoy a night out with a few friends for a drink.
Naturally, each person reacts differently to such situations. If your mindset is such that you do not move into yourself the way they did, then you are lucky in that. They, however, were rather less fortunate than you seem to have been.
Please, do not take my response as reason to be silent next time you wish to speak out against something- simply consider that others may not understand your viewpoint and will need elaboration.

Haha, don't worry - it's understandable... I sometimes find that I catch myself just before posting something, and then going back through to re-word it and take out a few swear words. Giving myself a mental slap on the wrist, as it were!

Shows how much you know..

I'm not going to get in to this, as I find it WAY too personal, and it is very difficult for me to talk about on a public forum.
If anyone wants to talk, though.. belaundead5 @ yahoo . com

Unless you have ever self-harmed, or REALLY knew someone well who did..
It's complicated; I won't give you a hard time because I doubt you understand it completely. I will talk to you about it if you want, but please remember to be sensitive of others feelings. This is why I didn't post my little "story" on here.

I do know people who self-harm, and they do it regularly and severely. A friend of mine, Bethany, was hospitalized recently for cutting her wrists too deeply. They saved her life, luckily, so she's out now. But if you still think I'm ignorant, then I suppose I can't change that.

Do you understand exactly why she did it?

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? I don't
-What do you generally drink?
-What tends to trigger you?

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? I used to smoke pot once in a while.. and I tried shrooms once lol but I don't do drugs anymore... plus I think it counts as social xD
-What do you use most often? Pot most often when I did
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.? Well I stopped xD
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)? It was just for fun =P
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use? Got most of it from my ex lol

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? I eat healthy =D
-Frequently or only when coping with something?
-What will trigger you? I'll under eat and then over eat if I happen to be really stressed or occupied with school and work, not having time for food, and then the next day just eating nonstop lol

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? Never
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly?
-What do you do?
-What do you use?
-Does anyone else know?
-What triggers you?

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Im anti-suicide, I have thoughts sometimes, but I don't plan to persue them
-Have you ever tried suicide?
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? Not for any of those reasons x]

I cannot believe that you honestly believe this... God, I almost want to cry knowing that someone feels this way...

Sorry, but even though I'm not a cutter (except once), I feel empathy for these people. They are not weak, and the act of cutting is not disgusting. The word 'disgusting' brings to mind maggots crawling in the ground, flesh rotting - not a coping mechanism (and yes, it DOES help one cope, I know). Friends and family are often the reasons for depression, and sometimes you feel like no one would understand your problems.

Don't judge. Please.

Thanks, Green.Lady..

Cutting oneself can only help one cope as much as drugs and alcohol can help one cope. At first it 'helps', but like every other inproductive coping method, it tends to spiral downwards. Cutting yourself is serious, and if you are doing so you should get help.
On the other hand, 'weak' is not the proper word. More like 'not the best decision', but when life is bringing you down so bad, or if you are clinically ill, you're not always thinking out your best options. And once you start cutting yourself, or falling in to drugs or alcohol, you can become dependant and it's hard to stop. Anyway, the bottom line is you SHOULDN'T cutt yourself, just like you shouldn't shoot up heroine. but if you do it doesn't make you disgusting, it doesn't make you weak, but it deffinitley means you should get help, and not just to stop cutting yourself, but for what made you cut yourself in the first place.

Well, I'm 26 now, so my answers will pertain to when I was 12-21 years old.

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink?

Until I was 19 I didn't drink at all. Then I started drinking every day.

-What do you generally drink?

Back then, beer.

-What tends to trigger you?

At the age of 19 I was living on the streets.

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!

-How often do you use?

When I was 20 I had a bout with hard drugs. But before and after that, I'd smoke weed (though I don't consider that a drug) occasionally, about once a week or so on average.

-What do you use most often?

Besides weed, I used heroin and crystal meth. Mixed.

-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?

No.

-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?

The heroin and meth, I chalk it up to sheer stupidity. For the weed, I smoked it because I enjoyed it. No other reason.

-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Mostly from street kids I knew.

Eating binges/deprivation

-Do you overeat or under eat?

No

-Frequently or only when coping with something?

N/A

-What will trigger you?

N/A

Self-injury

-How often do you self-injure?

When I was 12/13, I'd self-injure constantly. Just about every day. As I got older, I simply stopped, with the exception of three seperate times, the last one when I was 21.

-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly?

When I was 12/13, yes. After that, no.

-What do you do?

Cutting and rubbing.

-What do you use?

Razors to cut. Sand paper to rub.

-Does anyone else know?

A few of the people I was closest to.

-What triggers you?

Self-hatred.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide?

Yes.

-Have you ever tried suicide?

Yes.

-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?

No.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons?

No.

I've answered all of the questions with regard to my teenage years. I don't use drugs, or drink outside of social situations, so I eliminated those sections. Have you considered adding a section on sex as self destruction/negative coping?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat?: Diagnosed as ED-NOS, though I generally undereat.
-Frequently or only when coping with something?: I've had an eating disorder since I was about 9. Severity, treatment, and even type have varied.

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure?: I did regularly between the ages of 11-17. I couldn't necessarily give a specific frequency.
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? Ditto?
-What do you do?: Cut, burn.
-What do you use?: X-Acto knife, straight razor, matches, heated metal.
-Does anyone else know?: My mother found out when I was about 13. Whether or not she was aware I continued I'm not sure. I've got long, very deep scars on my legs, so I'm sure my boyfriends were aware too. None of them ever asked about it, though.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide?: Of course.
-Have you ever tried suicide?: Not as a teenager.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?: Nope.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons?: I was declared unresponsive to treatment at a fairly young age, and eventually was pretty much just left alone. For the better, I believe.

I'm 32 and female, hope this can help!


Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? It was social, so I guess it didn't count, but when I did it was to get totally shit-faced.
-What do you generally drink? Beer or whatever was there.
-What tends to trigger you? No adults around.

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? Never did drugs as a teen, that came later.
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? Over-ate
-Frequently or only when coping with something? All the time.
-What will trigger you? If someone made fun of me or I was feeling blue, which was all the time.

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? I carved my name in my leg a few times.
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? not regularly.
-What do you do? would cut my name in my leg, sometimes random words like bitch.
-What do you use? sharp kitchen knife and ice.
-Does anyone else know? my husband
-What triggers you? feeling sad or like everything was out of control. Cutting made me feel like I was in control for that moment.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? no
-Have you ever tried suicide?
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar?

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? No, but I've always wanted to, but could not afford one, and when I could there would be no way I'd go to one in my hometown. Small towns are a bitch to live in sometimes.

You should include sex as a coping device. I saw it used alot as a teen. I knew so many people who did not have a stable home, and thought that sleeping with their boyfriends would give them the love they needed, but it usually lead to worse problems that they had to cope with, which was usually handled by using one of the other coping devices, but it always lead back to sex. I was not one of those people, since I was a virgin untill I was 20 and out of school.

Hope I helped!! :)

My music and guitar helps me cope with the pressures of life. I just like to unwind with Nevermind the Bollocks and jam on my guitar. Works everytime.

We have a winner.

Drinking
Social drinking does not count!
-How often do you drink? I am a social drinker. I don't count:p.
-What do you generally drink? Anything that's fruity or sweet. Beer is nasty.
-What tends to trigger you? (*nothing but a good time*)

Substance abuse
"Social" drug use does not count!
-How often do you use? I have used pot twice, for five minutes each, over a period of a whopping two days. I am not a stoner in any sense of the word.
-What do you use most often?
-Has this amount/timing vary according to times of year, etc.?
-Why do you use? (triggers, reasons)?
-Where do you get whatever drugs you use?

Eating binges/deprivation
-Do you overeat or under eat? I don't anymore but I use to do both.
-Frequently or only when coping with something? I would not say I was coping. But yes, I was definitely, "dealing" since that's what you mean.
-What will trigger you? My undereating was a result of my negative body image. I use to think I was fat, although i've never been over 125 lbs in my life. Still...I always thought I looked awkward in certain things i'd wear. I never looked as slim and graceful as other girls. Overeating was caused by one of two things. A) because of my negative body image, I would overeat. Yes, that's a very good way to deal with it, I know. B) (Surfaced when I was on my college campus) I was depressed about certain things I didn't think I could handle; social situations, ignoring people, etc. It also happened a while before college, I think. When I didn't think my family(me/mom) would get through something and I was extremely worried.

Self-injury
-How often do you self-injure? I do it but rarely.
-Do you self-injure on and off or regularly? On and off.
-What do you do? I cut with a knife until I bleed. I don't go for the wrist. I cut the outside(as opposed to the inside, where all of the veins are) of my arm. I aim to feel it.
-What do you use? Small knives.
-Does anyone else know? My mother and an ex-friend.
-What triggers you? This is never about body image. It's about feeling lonely. Not thinking my situation will ever change. Not thinking I will ever have friends and loves I can call my own and hold. It's about loneliness.

Suicide
-Have you ever considered suicide? Yes.
-Have you ever tried suicide? Yes.
-Are you part of a suicide pact or something similar? No.

Other
-Have you ever seen a counselor, psychiatrist etc. for any of the aforementioned reasons? Yes.