Alternatives to Self Harming

[Foxjo]

thankyou very much for posting this ... i had a random idea last night to turn to knitting when i feel like self harming .... it's a problem ive had for quite a while but i've not really done enough to try and hel[ myself control this . i will be printing these off.

Definitely take up a hobby that uses your hands. This can then distract you from the urge.
Hobbies i do are cross stitch as it makes you concentrate on the pattern and i make christmas decorations out of felt.
This gives me great satisfaction when i can hand over a gift to someone knowing that i have made it myself and not self harmed!
Gradually by repeating this you can get out of the habit or urge of self harming.
its not easy it takes a lot of effort to resist but in time you can do it.
Hugs
Fox

 

[Cry-Baby]

Thank you so much for providing this for our community! It is wonderful to have safer options when we get that urge to hurt ourselves.

 

[tomghanini2]

Definitely take up a hobby that uses your hands. This can then distract you from the urge.
Hobbies i do are cross stitch as it makes you concentrate on the pattern and i make christmas decorations out of felt.
This gives me great satisfaction when i can hand over a gift to someone knowing that i have made it myself and not self harmed!
Gradually by repeating this you can get out of the habit or urge of self harming.
its not easy it takes a lot of effort to resist but in time you can do it.
Hugs
Fox

excuse me if I've already asked you this but my memory sucks and I don't take notes, but:

felt <- what kinda stuff do u make, do you have pickles, erm picckies. ?

Making something, following instructions, then repeating it has been an excellent source of "something to centre my thoughts on to escape the monsters". It's like u get in the zone, pureness, if ya like, like a single stroke down a cats purring back, like relistening to your fav song. You are in control, you are the master, a finished product is in your sights, it IS achievable and will be unique and that = special.

Maybe a bit load of avoidance but who the fuck cares.

 

[Foxjo]

excuse me if I've already asked you this but my memory sucks and I don't take notes, but:

felt <- what kinda stuff do u make, do you have pickles, erm picckies. ?

Making something, following instructions, then repeating it has been an excellent source of "something to centre my thoughts on to escape the monsters". It's like u get in the zone, pureness, if ya like, like a single stroke down a cats purring back, like relistening to your fav song. You are in control, you are the master, a finished product is in your sights, it IS achievable and will be unique and that = special.

Maybe a bit load of avoidance but who the fuck cares.

I make Christmas decorations like Robins, snowmen, Santa's they are a bit naive but I'm chuffed with them

 

[tomghanini2]

I make Christmas decorations like Robins, snowmen, Santa's they are a bit naive but I'm chuffed with them

You made them so they're frickin awesome and a punch in the mouth for anyone who says otherwise.

Anything you make yourself, that is unique to you, that gives you a sense of "yay me", that made you whilst making them, that posssibly helped you concentrate on something other than ,well, anything like that is immune to criticism. QED.

 

[kstan313]

Hi, I’m new to this forum and have found that these suggestions seem like they could help me, I already cuddle a soft toys and sleep with it, which I find soothing and really helps and the elastic band really helps too. Thank you guys

 

[sadpunchingbag]

watched a video on a girl who recommended elastic bands around your wrist if you get the urge flick the band onto the skin seemed ingenious i am unsure on if professional would disagree but i mean it is a better alternative to what you want to do/need to at that time

 

[elliepaige20]

These lists are all so helpful! Thank you everyone! xx

 

[Nada Importa]

I suppose the lemon (and chilli, I've had that suggested to me too) are still forms of SH but I think they're trying to suggest ways to stop the self harming.
The thinking in a different language is helping me a little at the minute, I'm learning Spanish and I've really got to simplify things and writing my short stories.
Did get a little too stressed last night and I self harmed.

I speak Spanish or did anyway.

 

[Nada Importa]

watched a video on a girl who recommended elastic bands around your wrist if you get the urge flick the band onto the skin seemed ingenious i am unsure on if professional would disagree but i mean it is a better alternative to what you want to do/need to at that time

I tried that.... bad idea!!

 

[00Bluejay7500 (was Scapes1986)]

..Talk into a pillow..
..Say your name..
..make a mental picture..
..focus on love..
..talk to your flowers..

 

[WhySoSerious]

A good one I found was using smelling salts. They are painful on the nostrils and damn powerful. If you use self-harming as a way of bringing yourself back into the moment (to avoid feeling numb) this is a certain winner.

 

[candycane]

One way you get someone to stop self-harming, is to be there friend and show kindness, and try to get them to open up and If and ONLY if they want to open up,then you let them. If they do open up, then listen to what they are telling you. You see a lot of times self-harm is a cry for help,but it can be a cry for getting someone to listen to them. Does it work all the time,not always,that is why you should seek out Mental-Health people,who are trained.

 

[Jandy]

I relapsed last night, I could sense it was going to come back soon. I'm going to use this to make this the last time, this has to be the last time. As superficial as it is, I'm going to keep myself on track by thinking about the fact it's almost spring and I'm going to want to wear shorts/short sleeves. This is really going to help

 

[candycane]

So sorry to here this.
I hope you find some help,for this problem of yours.