Help with negative coping mechanism

[Oliver_1706]

New here, but looking for advice.

I've been looking after my girlfriend for the last 2 years and at the moment I'm having difficulty helping her find a new coping mechanism for when things are bad. She's gone through various different mechanisms and the ones that help and actually give her some relief aren't the best.

at the moment shopping is the big problem, but we're in the process of moving home and aren't in a good financial situation. So I need her to try and control her spending, but I don't have a solution for how to cope, I don't want her to return to cutting and shopping is the least physically harmful, but I'm worried that it might jeopardise our moving plans and put us in a worse position long term.

Really I just want to know if there are better coping mechanisms that anyone knows of

[Colin_1705]

How about a craft or hobby such as knitting or making a rug or stuffed toys'. Or volunteer for a charity shop?

[jenny lucas]

Is she 'in treatment'? I do hope so.

I'm afraid reckless financial spending is very very dangerous, and terribly common in those with MH issues. It's an 'instant high' especially when done online!

I will say bluntly, cut up her credit cards (and her bank cards). Let her have a credit card which is only 'pre-loaded' with an exact amount that she can afford to spend (is she working, by the way?).

This has to be nipped in the bud STRAIGHT away, or will end up bankrupting you - and if not quite that, then lead you into debt and misery. (Ironically, her cutting will do less harm to you than her putting you into debt and penury.)

What has she been diagnosed with?

[Colin_1705]

Spouses and family never get advice from the psychiatrists or CPN on how to handle these issues, unfortunately