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Posts tagged self harm

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153 Things to do instead of self harm:

1. Exercise
2. Putting on fake tattoos
3. Drawing on yourself in red marker (make sure it’s washable!)
4. Scribbling on sheets an sheets of paper
5. Writing (poetry, stories, journal, etc.)
6. Cuddling with a stuffed toy
7. Being with other people
8. Watching a favorite TV show (preferably a comedy)
9. Posting on web boards, and answering others’ posts
10. Thinking about how I DON’T want scars for the summer
11. Painting your nails
12. Going to see a movie
13. Eating something ridiculously sweet (or any favorite food)
14. Doing school work
15. Surf the net
16. Go into chat rooms to talk
17. Call a friend and ask for company
18. Playing a musical instrument
19. Singing
20. Looking up at the sky (night is especially beautiful) .
21. Redo this list.
22. Punching a punching bag (with gloves on)
23. Shoot rubberbands across the room.
24. Cover yourself with band-aids where you want to cut
25. Mix warm water and red food coloring, and put in on your skin (feels and looks like blood)
26. Letting yourself cry (can be very difficult for some)
27. Sleep (only if you are tired)
28. A hot shower, or relaxing bath (no razors in the tub, though)
29. Play with a pet
30. Detangling yarn or necklaces
31. Re-organizing your room
32. Cleaning
33. Having a pillowfight with the wall (yes, neighbors may think you are crazy, but that’s ok)
34. Knitting or sewing
35. Reading a good book
36. Dressing up very glamorous (make sure no one can walk in on you, though)
37. Coloring my hair
38. Listening to music (try yo use calm music)
39. Watching a candle burn (no playing with the flames!)
40. Finding someone else you can help out
41. Meditate
42. Watching a scary (but not bloody, but if bloody movies help, than watch a bloody one) movie.
43. Work on a website
44. Have a vivid fantasy love affair with a celebrity
45. Go somewhere very public
46. Bake
47. Alphabetize your CD’s
48. Chewing leather (especially if you SI by biting)
49. Buy a home Henna tatoo kit (peels off the next day-similar to skin picking)
50. Painting or drawing
51. Ripping paper into itty-bitty pieces
52. Hugs-(this one is very nice…)
53. Writting letters or email
54. Talk to yourself (or if that feels weird, buy a small tape recorder-I then feel like someone is listening)
55. Stroke nice fabrics
56. Hug a pillow
57. Hyperfocus on something like a rock, hand, etc.
58. fingerprint
59. Scream real loud (make sure no one is home!)
60. Dance
61. Make hot chocolate (mmmmm….)
62. pop bubble wrap
63. play with modelling clay or Play-Dough
64. count to one hundred
65. Build a pillow fort
66. pop balloons
67. Hug yourself
69. Reading things in a different language
70. Going for a nice, long drive
71. Complete something you’ve been putting off
72. Drinking absurd amounts of tea
73. Breaking plastic plates
74. Tearing up socks
75. Throwing socks against the wall
76. Archery
77. Rock climbing
78. Take up a new hobby
79. Organize bills and such
80. Cook a meal
81. Go out for ice cream
82. Buy a stuffed animal
83. Look at pretty things-like flowers or artwork
84. Create Something
85. Pray
86. Randomly wave at people
87. Make a list of blessings in your life
88. Read the Bible
89. Go to a friend’s house
90. Take up fencing
91. Watch an old, happy movie
92. Call a Help hotline or your Therapist
93. Talk to someone close to you that knows
94. Throw a temper-tantrum
95. Hit things-other than yourself
96. Ride a bicycle.
97. Polish silver or jewelry.
98. Gardening or watering house plants
99. Memorizing poetry
100. CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!
101. Feed the ducks or birds or squirrels, etc.
102. Draw on the walls
103. Play with facepaint
104. Do very Glamerous make-up
105. Colour with crayons
106. Memorise a novel or play or song
107. Put on boots and STAMP
108. Stretch
109. Find butterflies
110. Watch fish
111. Come up with baby names (even if you’re not pregnant)
112. Make mashed potatoes
113. Make a tape of your favorite songs
114. Name all of your stuffed animals
115. Go shopping
116. Get into PJ’s and just veg.
117. Buy cheap teddy bears and take out anger on them instead of self.
118. Throw everything (except glass) into the centrer
119. Go to a loud concert
120. Play the 15 minute game (say you can’t cut for 15 minutes, and when the time is up, start again)
121. Plan your wedding / prom
122. Hunt for stuff on Ebay (you can find ANYTHING there)
123. Alphabetize your books
124. Hunt for your perfect home in the paper
125. Take up Tai Chi
126. Try to make as many words out of your full name as possible, then do your friends names)
127. count ceiling tiles/lights
129. search ridiculous things on the web
130. color-co-ordinate your wardrobe
131. do a home tan on yourself
132. sort all your photographs
133. color (or scribble) over the pretty women in magazines
134. plan a dinner party
135. play with a slinky
136. but yourself some toys and play
137. start collecting something
138. get a tattoo / piercing
139. play video/computer games
140. do a trash clean at your local park
141. Play on a swingset
142. go out and perform a random act of kindness for someone
143. call up an old friend
144. write yourself an “I love you because” letter
145. put on fake nails
146. try to build something
147. re-arrange your house
148. go to a public place and people watch
149. go through all your old stuff
150. go bargain - hunting
151. smile at least five people (you usually end up smiling genuinely yourself.)
152. go to the zoo and rename all the animals.
153. go for a peaceful walk.

Filed under self harm Inspiration for Recovery

Notes

strongerthistime-deactivated201 asked: The alternatives to self injury list is brilliant, however some of it you've got to be careful with. It would be amazing to swap self injury with something worthwhile but some people could end up abusing it. I once read in a magazine of a girl who swapped self injury for walking. She ended up walking & running so much that she lost half her weight & was so close to death. I'm not saying don't do this or don't do that, I'm just saying it's important to look at what we're doing properly first.

Thanks for the message.   I think that if someone is self harming they should definitely think of talking to a friend / relative/ councellor about it.   As you say there is no point replacing one bad obsessive habit with another.   But I really like the list because I see all to many young people on here thinking this is an ok way of dealing with things.   There also seems to be an ” everyone does it mentality” and a love of posting wounds and scars for all to see.   This is really troubling to me because it in no way helps vunerable people who are watching on this forum who may also be struggling with personal issues and desperately looking for a way to cope.

So people,  SH is no way to cope,  it simply isn’t an acceptable coping strategy.  SH is as real and serious an issue as Eating Disorders.  So if you do this to your one and only miraculous body please, please consult the aformentioned list on diversionary behaviours and get some help.<3

Filed under questions from followers self harm

13 notes

Sorry I pinched this from your blog but I thought it was really helpful<3

 

Alternatives to Self Injury.

• Talk to a friend (about something that won’t upset you).

• Go for a walk or go on a bike ride.

• Play with your pet or take them for a walk.

• Watch TV (watch something that holds your interest and not upset you).

• Read a good book.

• Work on a puzzle.

• Breathing exercises, inhale in and out very slowly. Clear your mind from thoughts that could be harmful. 

• Close your eyes and imagine yourself somewhere you want to be at that moment. 

•  Write down your feelings. 

• Draw a picture, or paint.

• Go for a run. (My personal favorite, I use this all the time.) 

• Rip up paper. 

• Punch a pillow.

• Cooking. 

• The Butterfly Project. The Butterfly Project has been created for self-harmers who feel they are ready to stop and need the motivation or support to do so. A member’s hypnotherapist, who found this idea on an online blog and felt that it was a good idea that should be promoted as a distraction, has recommended it.The idea is simple. The self-harmer simply draws a butterfly on their place(s) of self-harm and, if the butterfly fades without them self-harming, it means it has lived and flown away, giving them a sense of achievement. Whereas if they do self-harm with the butterfly there; they will have to wash it off. If that does happen, they can start again by drawing a new one on. 

• Crying. A really good way to release emotions. 

• Sleep. 

• Chimneys. This is a really good one. 

• Slash at the screen. (Click and drag white area) 

• 1-800-DONT-CUT (1-800-366-8288)

Learning how to stop cutting yourself can be difficult, but it is not impossible. Sometimes, professional help from a therapist may be necessary and that is okay (it does not mean you are weak or crazy). They are trained to help you find why you are cutting yourself and can help you cope with problems in a much healthier way.

I am always, always here if you need to talk. 


http://losingmyselfintheprocess.tumblr.com/

Filed under Inspiration for Recovery self harm