Under Construction - MHWA Retreat

What are some self-control issues you've struggled with? Anger? Impulsive behaviors? Focus? Motivation?
-Yes. All of the above, but especially the last three. With anger, I've spent my whole life suppressing it because anger wasn't safe to express in my childhood, so it's kind of a mess. I get very impulsive, especially with wanting to self harm. I'll end up doing it and immediately regret it, although I'm much better at harm reduction now. I have a lot of focus and motivation issues. Sometimes it feels like I have none of either.

Are there any warning signs or triggers that you're going to have a lapse in self control?
-It depends. I can feel it kind of building up in my body if it's anger or impulsive behavior related (depending on the impulsive behavior). I don't really know how to describe it, though.

What actions have you taken to regulate your emotions or regain control of yourself? What has worked and what hasn't?
-When I impulsively want to self harm, it sometimes helps to go through a list of questions, listen to music, or draw on myself. I also make bargains with myself about how if I'm going to do it, I will only do it once/on a particular spot/etc. So it limits the harm. It really helps me to be able to write stuff out in general, whether it's venting to myself or to a friend, so if I can do that about whatever it is, that usually helps me calm down and regain control. It doesn't always work, but yeah.

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look long into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you."-Nietzsche