Self Injury: Types, Alternatives, and Where to get Help

If it is not here yet popping bubble wrap!!!

Cracked

You can even do it online!

Or you can poke a penguin!

That is brilliant!!!

Cracked

This has been really helpful thankyou!

Throwing ice at a wall, into the shower, etc. has helped me. It relieves a lot of frustration and has the illusion of destroying something.

I don't really want an alternative, I want it to end... to go away... not replaced
I don't think any of us need temporary results, we need more permanent ones

I think that is where therapy comes in as the long term goal ie to stop harming, the alternatives are a short term goal to help break the addictive cycle.

Cracked

EarlGreyDregs wrote:2. Rubber-band on the wrist.

this just may work for me. i cut a week ago, and loved it. im going to tell my therapist about this idea

i find that distractions that involve pain, including 'non harmful pain' like holding ice cubes or the rubber band thingy, just make me want to cut more for some reason. :S
if i'm feeling like i need to cut i:
solve my rubix cube
play the piano
stroke my cat
suck my thumb (that one is just because i already do it, and it soothes me)
play with modeling clay
smoke (probably not the best thing to do, but if i feel really urgey it helps me )
make a cake
moisturise my hands with a nice scented hand cream

for some reason, i feel the need to keep my hands busy. these are the ones that have worked for me the most.

Write curse words all over a page. Just let loose.