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So…I have been struggling with self-harm urges since coming home from residential treatment. Until now, I had been able to manage those urges using my DBT skills. But yesterday and today felt different.

I fought them off for as long as I could, but the urges kept returning—stronger each time. I used the skills I have learned: STOP, opposite action, and intense exercise. I did everything I could to stay in control.

In the end, though, I relapsed.

At first, I saw it as a failure. But a friend reminded me that relapse is not failure—it is part of recovery. Healing is rarely a straight path. Sometimes we take a step backward. What matters is recognizing it, learning from it, and turning our focus back toward moving forward.

Recovery means continuing to try, even after difficult days. It means redoubling our efforts, using our skills again, and refusing to give up on ourselves.

What other choice do we have?

National Text Crisis Hotline: text CONNECT to 741741

More Later…