Things to do instead of hurting yourself

katerenee · Feb 18, 2008 at 11:41 PM

I write all the feelings that I am having down on paper then I tear the paper up.. it works most of the time!

littlejohn · Aug 16, 2008 at 01:12 PM

It used to help me and one thing that still does. I used to do a research on Self-Harm. The more I did the paper on it I realize that is why I harm. What mostly helps is going to the chat room here and talking about what is going on

lilpandaz · Aug 21, 2008 at 03:51 AM

I used to colour my whole hand in with a texture instead of cutting until the urge went a away.

taylor43 · Aug 24, 2008 at 06:45 PM

I play with play dough or draw faces, scribble. I also have a soft ball I throw agiants the wall

Nov 01, 2008 at 11:19 AM

i used to cut, but ive started punching walls instead which leaves me with horribly bruised, swollen, and crippled hands.

my therapist suggested that i punch pillows or my bed. this early in my treatment of this behavior this option wasnt giving me the relief i needed and i would just go back to punching bricks. so she then suggested i go ahead and punch whatever i felt i needed to, but that i wrap my hands over and over again with a thick towel so that there was no chance i would injure my hands/knuckles. for now, this works. and eventually i know ill be able to move onto punching my pillows or just coping with the stress in a less violent and aggressive manner.

oneinleftfield · Nov 02, 2008 at 04:23 PM

New here not only to this group but to emailing etc. So sorry if this doesn't come out right. I took a DBT class and they taught us all these skills. Very detailed and intellectual. Good info but when I'm that close to SI I'm not logical at all. So I got like a shoebox or whatever and put stuff in it so I just have to lift the lid and look inside. I have lots of stuff in there. They are all related to things I learned in group. It is my emergency kit. I have black nail polish(my favorite), pictures of people I love, a serenity chip, smarties and sweettarts (for when I'm dissociating and not in my skin), a emory board my therapist gave me, a yoyo, a superball, a rainforest CD, Happy Feet-the movie, cucumber melon hand lotion, pictures of places I'd love to visit, a lollipop, and other stuff. It doesn't guarantee my safety but it does show a willingness to change. Hope this helps someone.

Melpomene · Dec 16, 2008 at 03:34 PM

Pluck your eyebrows.

It works for me anyway.

Rachel... · Jan 16, 2009 at 06:18 AM

Thanks for the ideas everyone (:
Hopefully I'll find one in this long list which will help me (:
x

1stquestioner · Feb 23, 2009 at 11:56 AM

when i go through the list .. it remind my past.. i was going to cut myself...but i rush to my room and used a black marker to draw my face a big X . that big X can clearly be seen. i leave that X mark on my face and i continue to do my stuff till my family noticed.. and i laugh bout it.. LOL

phoenix7 · Feb 25, 2009 at 11:33 PM

I have a box with things in - funny things - pics of places id like to go - my T reminded me of something though - it helps to change the things every now and then or they may stop working so just wanted to pass that on - clever old T

ff271 · Mar 07, 2009 at 10:38 AM

I read all the posts concerning Things to do to avoid hurting yourself.Last week my girlfriend got me so angry,in addition to kicking and tghrowing things,i punched the kitchen walll about 6 times.I called my therapist and she told me to come right in.She talked to me awhile and got me calmed down,then they took me to a room to watch me to make sure i had no more intention of hurting myself again.I now have a sprained right wrist to prove it.I am now on medication and seem to more calm now and feeling a little better.Next time i should punch a pillow instead of a wall.

MacKLeo · Mar 13, 2009 at 02:50 AM

Hi,
Precaution is better than cure.

kim

cantstopcrying · Mar 13, 2009 at 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ff271

I read all the posts concerning Things to do to avoid hurting yourself.Last week my girlfriend got me so angry,in addition to kicking and tghrowing things,i punched the kitchen walll about 6 times.I called my therapist and she told me to come right in.She talked to me awhile and got me calmed down,then they took me to a room to watch me to make sure i had no more intention of hurting myself again.I now have a sprained right wrist to prove it.I am now on medication and seem to more calm now and feeling a little better.Next time i should punch a pillow instead of a wall.

Way to go on realizing that it would be better to punch a pillow instead of a wall! That's terrific. Thank goodness your t could get you right in and worked with you. I do want to say one thing regarding something you said, though. You said, "my girlfriend got me so angry...", if there is a next time that you get this angry, it may help diffuse or redirect it a bit if you remember that you may have been angry at her, at things she said or did, but she didn't get you angry, you got angry yourself. Sometimes rethinking our anger helps refocus and may diffuse it a little. Keep up the good work, and make sure it's a very fluffy pillow!

Heartachehannah430 · Mar 30, 2009 at 08:38 AM

These are really good! Thanx 4 posting!

desires · Apr 04, 2009 at 03:14 PM

Thanks for u r suggestions

Apr 05, 2009 at 10:08 PM

When I feel bad I get the urge to do small, repetitive, and sometimes even intricate movements. This usually leads to over eating/biting myself (chewing fulfills this need) pulling out my hair (If I started pluching my eyebrows I'm afraid I'd be left with none left I'm afraid

), and sometimes scratching myself. I'm trying to figure out better things to do, so far I basically have drawing. Sometimes, very few times actually, I write. I find it frightening these days to write down my own thoughts when I have these sorts of moments. Oddly enough doing math problems have helped me before too...somehow focusing on numbers and equations...as long as I know how to do the problem, take the edge off of my impulses and blunt my emotions...but the math solution generally only works in school because when I'm at home and in that sort of state I can't focus on anything else except said impulses.

Sooo...any suggestions? I've tried some of the grounding teqniques like breathing excercises...and they only help for a few seconds...and taking deep breaths and counting till ten for who knows how long isn't an appealing thought.

Live,Laugh,Love · Nov 30, 2009 at 08:43 PM

thanks you so much that will help me a lot ill do my best to follow these

SheilaJane · Dec 03, 2009 at 09:07 PM

This is a great list. I'll definitely try to refer to it next time I want to SI! Thanks so much for starting this thread!

betsybean · Jan 15, 2010 at 08:51 PM

ice water is a good one

Indie'sOK · Jan 21, 2010 at 08:41 PM

wait for the feeling to pass. that's what T told me to do since SI is an impulse.

go out and drive around aimlessly for a while.

housework

for me, homework. (probably a good idea anyway

)

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Things to do instead of hurting yourself

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katerenee Junior Member Member Since Feb 2008 Location: New York Posts: 9 16	Feb 18, 2008 at 11:41 PM #41 I write all the feelings that I am having down on paper then I tear the paper up.. it works most of the time!
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lilpandaz Junior Member Member Since Aug 2008 Posts: 11 16	Aug 21, 2008 at 03:51 AM #43 I used to colour my whole hand in with a texture instead of cutting until the urge went a away.
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taylor43 Veteran Member Member Since Jul 2008 Location: Alberta Posts: 557 16 399 hugs given	Aug 24, 2008 at 06:45 PM #44 I play with play dough or draw faces, scribble. I also have a soft ball I throw agiants the wall
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Melpomene Member Member Since Jun 2008 Location: UK Posts: 142 16	Dec 16, 2008 at 03:34 PM #47 Pluck your eyebrows. It works for me anyway. __________________ "One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life, that word is Love" - Socrates
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Rachel... Junior Member Member Since Sep 2008 Posts: 17 16	Jan 16, 2009 at 06:18 AM #48 Thanks for the ideas everyone (: Hopefully I'll find one in this long list which will help me (: x
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1stquestioner New Member Member Since Feb 2009 Location: dont remember Posts: 5 15	Feb 23, 2009 at 11:56 AM #49 when i go through the list .. it remind my past.. i was going to cut myself...but i rush to my room and used a black marker to draw my face a big X . that big X can clearly be seen. i leave that X mark on my face and i continue to do my stuff till my family noticed.. and i laugh bout it.. LOL __________________ ---- Dont self-diagnosis , see a psychiatrist ----
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MacKLeo Member Member Since Aug 2008 Posts: 52 16	Mar 13, 2009 at 02:50 AM #52 Hi, Precaution is better than cure. kim
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Heartachehannah430 Member Member Since Mar 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 64 15	Mar 30, 2009 at 08:38 AM #54 These are really good! Thanx 4 posting!
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desires Junior Member Member Since Apr 2009 Location: India Posts: 6 15	Apr 04, 2009 at 03:14 PM #55 Thanks for u r suggestions
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Live,Laugh,Love New Member Member Since Nov 2009 Posts: 1 14	Nov 30, 2009 at 08:43 PM #57 thanks you so much that will help me a lot ill do my best to follow these
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SheilaJane Member Member Since Oct 2009 Location: USA Posts: 59 15	Dec 03, 2009 at 09:07 PM #58 This is a great list. I'll definitely try to refer to it next time I want to SI! Thanks so much for starting this thread!
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betsybean Junior Member Member Since Jan 2010 Posts: 8 14	Jan 15, 2010 at 08:51 PM #59 ice water is a good one
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Indie'sOK Grand Magnate Member Since Jun 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,584 15	Jan 21, 2010 at 08:41 PM #60 wait for the feeling to pass. that's what T told me to do since SI is an impulse. go out and drive around aimlessly for a while. housework for me, homework. (probably a good idea anyway ) __________________ Only you can prevent neurotypical jerkiness!
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