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

Hey

I think it's really important to remember that even though your SH alternative can take ages if you like, it's really those first 30 seconds that are vital. For every minute or half minute that you resist you should try to feel strong and more confident, whether its reading, drawing or just tearing paper. I always try and imagine that each minute makes the next one a bit easier.

So good luck with whatever works for you!

Well, great work! You have helped me to improve my knowledge about this field. Thank you so much for sharing.

I dont know if this is in here yet but talking helped me so much last night - talking it out with ppl on here. Another thing that I found useful was to write down all the consequences of what wold happen if I did cut. There were more than I thought. I had a piece of paper with what I wanted to do and then the consequences of it and then at the end a summary of what would happen if I cut. I hope this helps.

Cracked

Neil@Libra wrote: I actually observe mothers behaving in a way towards usually just one of their offspring that is calculated to drive it mad.

Sloppy parenting is not the cause.

Typical scientology psychobabble.

RustyRockets wrote:Hey

I think it's really important to remember that even though your SH alternative can take ages if you like, it's really those first 30 seconds that are vital. For every minute or half minute that you resist you should try to feel strong and more confident, whether its reading, drawing or just tearing paper. I always try and imagine that each minute makes the next one a bit easier.

So good luck with whatever works for you!

I totally agree... just delaying can help sooo much. Especially if you have been SH for a while because it becomes an automatic response and before you know it, you've done it. Somethimes a distraction that just interupts that automatic response can do wonders,and invokes a thought process. Like Cracked said, talking it out can do that too!

Saint

Sloppy parenting is not the cause.

Typical scientology psychobabble.

bull crap. You underestimate the consequences of bad parenting. What neil@libra wrote is far beyond "sloppy". OUr brains are constantly shaped by our experiences and are the most plastic when we are young. And when we are young we are influence the most by our caregivers, particularly if there is lack of "care".

I have read exercise on here a few times, but for me a run kicks the urge like nothing else. I know that alternatives are better, but I still feel like I lost the war when I snap a rubber band or something, so I put all of that injury into a run. I'm not a very good runner, but I'll sprint for blocks until my breathing burns and my legs are stumbling. It gets you away from the instruments you use, out into the world, and by the time I get back the endorphins hit me and I usually feel like I did something productive that is good for me. Plus I'm so tired that I don't get wound up again. Just a thought.

These are some nice alternatives to self harm, replacing the urge with other things. Thank you guys for the ideas.

When I was in my teens I would take a belt, wire it around my hand, and beat upon the other arm or upper body with the folded belt until the psychic pain diminished. I know that this isn't something to recommend, but it didn't leave any scars or permanent marks.

Hi archigallus, yes while this is an alternative to cutting it is still a significant form of SH. I am sure you bruised yourself. I hope this is still in your past and you are doing well.

Sam