I cut before, but it wasn't for any real "reason" until recently.

Now I don't cut, though (it's amazing what guilt can do, haha), I'll just bruise myself or make small scratches. I know, however, that this is only a small step away from what I was doing before... and I'm getting kind of tired of waiting for the bruises where I stabbed myself with a pencil to fade.

I know why I do it, though--sometimes I get so incredibly tense and angry at myself or my situation that I feel as though the only way to get rid of it is to physically lash out. My stress and anxiety manifests itself in a physical feeling of horrible tenseness, and since becoming a black hole (what I wish I could do--all that gravity to stretch you out) or smashing my chair against the desk aren't options, I hurt myself instead.

Has anybody found a way to relieve that tension without hurting themselves? Thanks much.