To think this is awful advice (TW)

[CleverQuacks]

Trigger warning: post talks about self harm

i have had complex mental health problems since I was a teenager (now 35) and recently started seeing a new psychiatrist. We were talking about my history of self harm and I explained that since starting a new medication I haven’t self harmed (it’s been 7 years since the last incident). I still get strong thoughts and urges to self harm but am now able to resist these. I went on to say that because of this I refuse to have razors in the house just incase I get an urge and can’t resist. I have only ever used razors to self harm, no other sharps.

My psychiatrist said that I need to start buying razors because the thoughts will never go away until I face them but my opinion is I would rather live with the thoughts and not risk a relapse than take a chance. I can be very impulsive when unwell so it would be very easy for me to just do it with little thought if the razor was there.

Prior to 7 years ago my self harm was significant and very regular so I will do anything to avoid a relapse.

What do people think? I don’t want the psychiatrist to think I am not working with him as he has been very good so far but I am scared.

I think keeping them out of the house is very sensible
In time you might feel able to have them around as an exposure sort of thing, but if you don't feel ready or safe in that position then that's how you feel. You know yourself and how you will react the best

What weird advice. Trust your instincts and don't do it.

Also a self harmer. I think this is really weird and stupid advice from the psychiatrist.

I used to self harm. It's been a long time since I've done it but, like you, at times I still get a strong urge to do it. And I take precautions regarding things I don't trust myself with.
So yes I wouldn't be happy about what your psychiatrist said to you.

Much as I don't like to second guess a trained professional some doctors come out with some right shite

You know what works for you, also given it's a relatively new shrink I think it's weird they went straight in with that advice

Don't do it OP.
If you were an alcoholic you wouldn't keep booze in to prove to yourself you were better . If you were a good addict you wouldn't have junk food in .
Not that you are addicted to self harming but it just doesn't make sense

Food not good 🙄
Auto correct can do one 😊

Just to play Devil’s advocate - your interpretation of his comment might be different than his. He might think your actions are contradictory to your words eg you haven’t hurt yourself in a long time, but you continue to avoid owning a standard household item, so to a certain extent you still struggle with this and are placing barriers in your everyday life to cope. Therefore he might be trying to say until you work through everything, you’re not out of the woods just yet. Your perspective is that you’re protecting yourself by not having those items, whereas his perspective is that is indicative that you don’t trust yourself and may still have a problem. In a roundabout way, I doubt he was genuinely/literally wanting you to head to the shops and load up on these items but more to challenge your thinking and help you realise that something is unresolved here. There’s no perfect way to be a psychiatrist - ultimately you just might not be a good fit for each other.

It's actually good professional advice:
Avoidance is what maintains anxiety
By avoiding razors you give them more power than an object should have
You have convinced yourself that the reason you don't self harm is that you don't have access to razors when in reality it is because you have got better and you have better coping mechanisms so you don't need to
If you did have razors the huge likelihood is that it would make no difference and you would be fine because you have moved on
His thoughts are probably that if you challenge yourself you will see that and it will be the final step of being free of those thoughts.

However you never have to take any advice if you don't like it. You do what works for you I doubt they will be offended. Avoiding razors doesn't affect your life much I guess if it was all sharps you can see how that isn't a sustainable strategy and needs to be challenged.

If you were going to do this, it should really be with goals, planning, and support. Not just buying razors and hoping you’ll resist them. But I don’t see why you would anyway, because no one actually needs razors (except perhaps for rare medical conditions that I don’t know about). Sounds like your psychiatrist didn’t think it through. Sometimes doctors say very silly things!

I would keep razors out of the house at least until you’ve had another chance to talk to your psychiatrist and discuss your concerns again.

Congrats on all your progress ❤️

That is a random suggestion and I really doubt it'd achieve anything! Imagine saying to a recovering alcoholic that they should have a bottle of vodka in the fridge!

In reality, I do the same as you OP. You don't need razors in your life...just use an electric shaver or be free and furry