It's been awhile

I haven't cut myself, burned myself, or beat myself with a hammer in months but my stress level is very high and I think about it often. Any advice to keep from eventually falling back into negative behavior?

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I'm in the same boat as you. I don't know what the best thing to do is, but if you can try not to latch onto the thoughts - allow them to come but allow them to go too. Try to refocus each time and if that doesn't work distract yourself until the urge/thought passes. My t says just because you have the thought you don't need to act on it. I know that all sounds simple and is easier said than done, but I've found not clinging to those thoughts and not allowing myself to obsess over them has help me a little.

Hello catlover21: A psychiatrist once told me that using the hands & fingers to do something that requires hand & finger dexterity, takes up a large amount of the brain's capacity. This helps to prevent negative thoughts from spreading throughout the brain. So, if you can find something to do that requires hand & finger dexterity, perhaps this might one possible practical remedy... just a thought. Good luck!

Have you tried the fifteen minute game? You choose to or not to hurt yourself just for 15 minutes. Then you occupy yourself with something distracting, at the end of 15 mins choose again, it's always up to you. The feelings always reduce eventually. The worker who helps me with my battle not to SI says it takes 1 to 1.5 hours for anxiety or stress to reduce. Sounds like forever, but it's only 4 'games' or 6. This helps me a lot.
i wish you well and send as much care as I can.
((((((((Catlover21))))))))

Ps congratulations on avoiding SI for so long, whatever you do (or have done since writing this!