I don't think it is a bad thing to replace one SI method with another. The standard method for causing pain in a medical test is putting your hand in a bowl of ice water. It is painful but it doesn't cause any permanent damage if you stop after 2 mins. Holding ice cubes also works.

I found some distraction mehtods helpful to hold off the urges. Taking a hot shower calms me down, and taking a nap usually helps me. Hanging out with a friend or family member as well.

Self harming is a way to cope. There are other ways to cope, but we get so overwhelmed we fall back to what we know works.