Instead of Self Harm

22
Instead of self harm || Healing Get lungs that do what they’re supposed to. Yo urs keep le tting you down. They shrink down to nothing when you’re scared, when you need deep breaths the most. They are useless, failing organs. Replace them. Don’t kiss the boy with no bicycle. Don’t kiss the girl with moon lips. Don’t kiss wild animals or atom bombs. Don’t kiss. Remember metaphors are not bandages. Y o u silly little girl, you think you’ve survived so long that survival shouldn’t hurt anymore. Yo u keep trying to turn your body bullet proof. Y ou keep trying to turn your heart bomb shelter. You silly thing. You are soft and alive. You bruise and heal. herish it. !t is what you are born to do. Remember you can leave. Yo u can a lways leave. Take your baby, yo ur backpack, get in the car and drive. "a ybe to #rooklyn, to $akland, somewhere you’ve always thought it would be romantic to cal l home. ome now, y ou promised yourself. Y ou promised you’d live through this.%146 things to do instead of selfharm &. '(ercise. ). *ut on fake tattoos. +. Draw on yourself with washable red markerthen take a shower and wash away your pain. -. cribble on sheets of paper. /. 0rite poetr y. 1. uddle with a stuffed toy . 2. #e with other people. 3. 0a tch a favori te T4 show. 5. *ost on web boards or try answering other people6s posts. &7, Think about how %! D$86T 098T 9R :$R ;""'R<<% &&. *aint your nails a new color. &). Go out to see a movie. &+. 'ating somethin g you can6t resist. &-. Do your school work.

Transcript of Instead of Self Harm

Page 1: Instead of Self Harm

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Instead of self harm || Healing

Get lungs that do what they’re supposed to. Yours keep letting you down. They shrink down

to nothing when you’re scared, when you need deep breaths the most. They are useless,failing organs. Replace them.

Don’t kiss the boy with no bicycle. Don’t kiss the girl with moon lips. Don’t kiss wild animals

or atom bombs. Don’t kiss.

Remember metaphors are not bandages. You silly little girl, you think you’ve survived so long

that survival shouldn’t hurt anymore. You keep trying to turn your body bullet proof. You

keep trying to turn your heart bomb shelter. You silly thing. You are soft and alive. You bruise

and heal. herish it. !t is what you are born to do.

Remember you can leave. You can always leave. Take your baby, your backpack, get in the

car and drive. "aybe to #rooklyn, to $akland, somewhere you’ve always thought it would be

romantic to call home. ome now, you promised yourself. You promised you’d live through

this.%146 things to do instead of selfharm

&. '(ercise.

). *ut on fake tattoos.

+. Draw on yourself with washable red markerthen take a shower and wash away your pain.

-. cribble on sheets of paper.

/. 0rite poetry.

1. uddle with a stuffed toy.

2. #e with other people.

3. 0atch a favorite T4 show.

5. *ost on web boards or try answering other people6s posts.

&7, Think about how %! D$86T 098T 9R :$R ;""'R<<%

&&. *aint your nails a new color.

&). Go out to see a movie.

&+. 'ating something you can6t resist.

&-. Do your school work.

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&/. 0rite a letter to someone but never send it.

&1. Go into chat rooms to talk.

&2. all a friend and ask them to come hang out.

&3. *lay a musical instrument.

&5. ing.

)7. =ook up at the sky, and find the moon. tudy it.

)&. "ake your own list of things to do instead of .!.

)). #uy a punching bag >with gloves. 8ame it. Then, have a visit with Bob when you need

to.

)+. nap a rubber band >hair band? on your wrist.

)-. over yourself with bandaids where you want to cut.

)/. Go to the @oo and rename the animals.

)1. =et yourself cry, even if it is hard.

)2. leep, only if you are tired.

)3. Do the exact opposite of what you really want to do.

)5. *lay with a pet.

+7. mile to at least / people.

+&. Reorgani@e and lable your linen closet.

+). Go out and perform one act of kindness.

++. Aave a pillow fight with a wall.

+-. Bnit a scarf.

+/. Read a good book.

+1. Dress up very glamorous, with makeup to match.

+2. olor your hair.

+3. =isten to music >nontriggering?

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+5. 0atch a candle burn, but no playing with flames or hot wa(. #low it out when you leave

the room.

-7. :ind someone else you can help. Do volunteer work.

-&. "editate. Track your breathing.

-). all up an old friend and catch up.

-+. 0ork on a website or start a new one.

--. Aave a vivid fantasy love affair with a celebrity.

-/. Go somewhere very public.

-1. #ake cookies or another favorite food you like.

-2. 9lphabeti@e your D6s.

-3. hew gum.

-5. #uy a henna tattoo kit.

/7. *aint or draw.

/&. Rip paper into really small pieces.

/). Give someone a Aug.

/+. 0rite a letters or emails.

/-. Talk to yourself, and put it on tape.

//. Aug a pillow.

/1. Ayperfocus on something like a rock.

/2. :ingerpaint.

/3. cream as loud as you want.

/5. Dance.

17. "ake hot chocolate.

1&. *op bubble wrap.

1). *lay with play dough.

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1+. ount to &77.

1-. #uild a pillow fort.

1/. #low up a balloon and pop it.

11. Aug yourself.

12. 0rite yourself an %! love myself because% letter and keep it. Read it when you feel down.

13. Read things in a different language.

15. Go for a nice long drive, walk, or Cog.

27. omplete something you have been putting off.

2&. Drink a cup of herbal tea.

2). :old paper and invent a new origomi shape.

2+. 0rite your memoirs.

2-. #uild something.

2/. Take up archery.

21. Go rock climbing.

22. Take up a new hobby you always dreamed of.

23. $rgani@e bills, receipts, etc.

25. ook a meal.

37. Go out for ice cream.

3&. #uy a stuffed animal.

3). =ook at pretty thingslike flowers or art work.

3+. reate something.

3-. *ray or read the #ible.

3/. Throw socks against the wall.

31. "ake a list of blessings in your life.

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32. Go to a friend6s house and open up.

33. Take up fencing.

35. 0atch an old comedy movie.

57. all your therapist or make an appointment with one.

5&. Talk to someone close to you that you trust.

5). Throw a temper tantrum.

5+. Ride a bicycle.

5-. *olish silver or Cewelry.

5/, tart a garden or water your house plants.

51. Rearrange a room.

52. :eed the ducks, birds, or suirrels.

53. Draw on the wallsor paint with watercolors if you don6t want permanence.

55. *lay with face paint.

&77. *lay Cacks or pick up sticks.

&7&. olor with crayons.

&7). "emori@e a song and sing it. Then, reflect on it6s message.

&7+. *ut on boots and stomp.

&7-. tretch.

&7/. :ind a butterfly and catch it.

&71. 0atch fish.

&72. ome up with baby names even if you aren6t e(pecting.

&73. Go to a public place and people watch.

&75. "ake a D of your favorite songs.

&&7. 8ame all of your stuffed animals.

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&&&. Go shopping.

&&). Get into your *E6s and Cust veg.

&&+. #uy cheap teddy bears and take your anger out on them

&&-. Throw everything on the ground e(cept glass.

&&/. Go to a loud concert >"ake sure it doen6t trigger you?

&&1. Think about your ideal life. 0hat do you have to do to get thereF

&&2. *lan your someday wedding day or upcoming prom.

&&3. Aunt for stuff on 'bay.

&&5. 9lphabeti@e your books and maga@ines.

&)7. Aunt for your perfect home in the paper or online.

&)&. Take up Tai hi.

&)). Try to make as many words as possible out of your full name.

&)+. ount ceiling tiles or lights.

&)-. Go to the grocery store and buy yourself some flowers.

&)/. earch for ridiculous things on the web.

&)1. Google youself.

&)2. olor cooridinate your wardrobe.

&)3. Do a home tan on yourself.

&)5. Take a hot bath and %be% in the moment.

&+7. ort all you photographs.

&+&. Give yourself a pedicure.

&+). olor or scribble over pretty women in maga@ines.

&++. *lan a dinner party with menus and guest list, then carry it out.

&+-. Go through all your old stuff, and donate to Good 0ill.

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&+/. Take a walk in the woods and breathe the fresh air.

&+1. tart a mood Cournal and write in it every day. Do patterns surfaceF Track your triggers.

&+2. #uy yourself some toys and play like you are / years old again<

&+3. tart to collect sometthing.

&+5. Take up kickbo(ing.

&-7. Read a maga@ine or newspaper.

&-&. ew something.

&-). #uy a stuffed animal.

&-+. Take your own dog, or a friend6s dog for a walk.

&--. all &377D$8T;T

&-/. all &377TA'R9*!T

&-1. Read through this list again.

 

Draw on yourself with sharpie/draw pretend wounds where you want to cut.

!t’s a physiological thing. Your mind sees red where you want to cut, and sometimes the urge

goes away. $r, instead of cutting you can buy brand new sharpies with semi sharp edges and

draw on the undersides of your arms. !t can also be fun and artistic. ?

When you want to cut, go outside and distract yourself, or pic up a ho!!y.

!f possible, go on a walk. !t’s a good idea to get some fresh air where these thought’s don’t

seem to trap you. '(ercise is a natural way of releasing endorphins, a similar reaction toharming oneself. Good hobbies to pick up are painting, or writing in a Cournal. You don’t have

to be good at itH nobody will be critiuing your work. !t’s a healthy way to e(press emotion,

which is highly beneficial. it and draw, or read a book. 0hatever you’re comfortable with

works<

" #ery simple one, !last music.

$ne of my various mottos Aeadphones in, world out. Eust get some music, somewhat

cheerful preferably, and tune out the world. 'mbrace music, and embrace yourself. :eel free

to dance like a hooligan as well. D

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$or e#ery cut you ha#e, you ha#e to wait one day to cut again.

=et’s say you’ve cut / times. / cuts. 0ait / days to cut again. ee if you can do it. !t’s an

alternative to driving yourself cra@y by trying to stop cold turkey. #ecause, you’re not

stoppingcompletely. This is also a pact you can make with someone who desires you to stop

!. $r for burnsIbruises etc, you can wait until it heals to JK’ point before doing it again.

%ractice &indfulness '&editate()

*ut on some light music or find a uiet place and try to clear your mind. Take deep breaths

and try to control your heart beat. Try to observe everything that is going on around you in the

moment. >You don’t even have to sit in the stupid pret@el position<? !f you’re going to cry,

then let the tears flow. This is your personal time to rela( and do whatever you want. 9 piece

of advice, it is better to focus on something that’s 8$T stress or trigger related.

=aura’s alming *laylist

%atricia*s +Happy songs %laylist

 Pattern Page. A print out color page website. You could even use it on the computer.

 Brings you back to your childhood~!

Take a hot or cold shower. 8ot luke warm and take your time<

httpIIastretchyhand.com 

" super long list of alternati#es

*unch something< Go cra@yL< *referably punch your pillow or bed, or couch. 8ot a

wall or tree.

cream at the top of your lungs. Don’t feel stupid, Cust let it out<

ew your very own 4ampire #unny *lushie

*lay an instrument if you have one.

"ake yourself a friendship 8'B=9'. !t’s like a friendship bracelet, Cust a hell of a

lot bigger<

Run an ice cube down wherever you !. Do it until it melts away completely. !t’s a sub

for those urges and feelings.

imilar to the ice cube, run really cold water over the area you want to !.

Aemp and ribbon crochet bracelet<

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Tape cardboard or paper to your wall, turn up the music and listen. 0rite your

thoughtsIsong lyrics on these sheets of paperIcardboard until you feel better.

0iddling, you don’t have to make anything in particular Cust make shit. ounds fun

rightF

Get a ballpoint pen, the finest one you can find, and when you want to cut use the pen

to make lines. !t’s unlikely to cut you >unless you keep going over it..dont recommend that?

 but thin pens are sharp and scratchy and cause the closest thing to the sting from cutting !

have found. !t will also leave red marks there for a day or two which could be good or bad,

depending on where you do it

0rite emotional song lyrics

$rigami. ranes, hearts fish, cootiecatchers, roses, weave a basket out of old maps.

You have something to show for it, and it keeps your hands busy. >9lso, it makes your friends

go $$A and 99A.?>$rigami link two?

*luck your brows. !t hurts.

*rint out and cut lyrics of songs and tape them to your wall. olor them.

0rite what you’re feeling in a book, then use whatever you normally ! with to

destroy the page. >!f you burn, make sure you have something to smother potential fire with

nearby<?

"ake friendship bracelets< !f someone else makes it for you it could be a way to help

you not want to !. 9nd it keeps your hands busy, is easy and fun to do

0rap bandages around your area of !>draw bloody patches on it if you must?. !t will

deter you from ! in that area.

0rite in a Cournal. Aere’s some writing prompts to start you off 

hred an old shirt and weave it into a really simple, stylish scarf.

"9B' A$"'"9D' *=9YD$;GA.

"ake yourself a co@y pair of slippers

"ake yourself a tiny little teddy bear with pipe cleanersIclay

*ull the hair on your legs and cut it with your tool. The pulling sensation causes pain

and could curb your urges

ome childhood movies.

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ome "$R' childhood movies.

*aint your nails<

 boardgameonline.com

 pick your favorite book, and put your ra@or at a certain page. !f you can read to the

 page where your ra@or is at without smiling, you get to cut. !f you smile, you have to put away

your ra@or for the rest of the day.

Take a notebook and hand write all the nice things people have said to you. 'ither

from tumblr, real life or what have you. 0hen you’re triggered you must read the book front

to back before you’re allowed to do anything to yourself.

"ake a playlist of songs e(actly how you’re feeling at the moment. Triggering,

soothing, it’s all up to you. $ptionalH You must listen to it all the way through before gettingup and harming yourself.

*lease keep in mind that unfortunately, not everything on this list will work for everyone. o,

if you try something and it doesn’t work for you, don’t get discouraged< ome of these

choices are complicated, and you might want to utili@e the help of a therapist or trusted friend

when undertaking them. Recovery is not a process that can be walked through alone, so don’t

 be afraid to reach out for help.

!f you have any items to add to the list, please message me

"lternati#es for when you*re feeling angry or restless)

 

cribble on photos of people in maga@ines

4iciously stab an orange

Throw an appleIpair of socks against the wall

Aave a pillow fight with the wall

cream very loudly

Tear apart newspapers, photos, or maga@ines

Go to the gym, dance, e(ercise

=isten to music and sing along loudly

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Draw a picture of what is making you angry

#eat up a stuffed bear 

*op bubble wrap

*op balloons

platter paint

cribble on a piece of paper until the whole page is black 

:illing a piece of paper with drawing cross hatches

Throw darts at a dartboard

Go for a run

0rite your feelings on paper then rip it up

;se stress relievers

#uild a fort of pillows and then destroy it

Throw ice cubes at the bathtub wall, at a tree, etc

Get out a fine tooth comb and vigorously brush the fur of a stuffed animal >but use

gentle vigor?

lash an empty plastic soda bottle or a piece of heavy cardboard or an old shirt or sock 

"ake a soft cloth doll to represent the things you are angry atH cut and tear it instead of 

yourself 

:latten aluminium cans for recycling, seeing how fast you can go

$n a sketch or photo of yourself, mark in red ink what you want to do. ut and tear

the picture

#reak sticks

ut up fruits

"ake yourself as comfortable as possible

tomp around in heavy shoes

*lay handball or tennis

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Yell at what you are breaking and tell it why you are angry, hurt, upset, etc.

#uy a cheap plate and decorate it with markers, stickers, cut outs from maga@ines,

words, images, what ever that e(presses your pain and sadness and when you’re done, smash

it. >*lease be careful when doing this?

The alm Ear >:ill a mason Car or similar with colored water and glitter. 0hen feeling

upset or angry you can shake it to disturb the glitter and focus on that until the glitter settles.?

#low up a balloon and pop it

"lternati#es that will gi#e you a sensation 'other than pain( without harming yourself)

 

Aold ice in your hands, against your arm, or in your mouth

Run your hands under free@ing cold water 

nap a rubber band or hair band against your wrist

lap your hands until it stings

0a( your legs

Drink free@ing cold water 

plash your face with cold water 

*ut *49I'lmer’s glue on your hands then peel it off 

"assage where you want to hurt yourself 

Take a hot showerIbath

Eump up and down to get some sensation in your feet

0rite or paint on yourself 

9rm wrestle with a member of your family

Take a cold bath

#ite into a hot pepper or chew a piece of ginger root

Rub liniment under your nose

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*ut tiger balm on the places you want to cut. >Tiger balm is a muscle rela(ant cream

that induces a tingly sensation. You can find it in most health food stores and vitamin stores.?

"lternati#es that will distract you or tae up time)

 

ay M!’ll self harm in fifteen minutes if ! still want toN and keep going for periods of

fifteen minutes until the urge fades

olor your hair 

ount up to ten getting louder until you are screaming

ing on the karaoke machine

omplete something you’ve been putting off 

Take up a new hobby

"ake a cup of tea

Tell and laugh at Cokes

*lay solitaire

ount up to /77 or &777

urf the net

"ake as many words out of your full name as possible

ount ceiling tiles or lights

earch ridiculous things on the web

olour coordinate your wardrobe

*lay with toys, such as a slinky

Go to the park and play on the swings

all up an old friend

Go Mpeople watchingN

arry safe, rather than sharp, things in your pockets

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Do school work 

*lay a musical instrument

0atch T4 or a movie

*aint your nails

9lphabeti@e your Ds or books

ook 

"ake origami to occupy your hands

Doodle on sheets of paper 

Dress up or try on old clothes

*lay computer games or painting programs, such as photoshop

0rite out lyrics to your favorite song

*lay a sport

Read a bookImaga@ine

Do a crossword

Draw a comic strip

"ake a chain link out of paper counting the hours or days you’ve been self harm free

using pretty colored paper 

Bnit, sew, or make a necklace

"ake Jscoobies’ braid pieces of plastic or lace, to keep your hands busy

#uy a plant and take care of it

Aunt for things on e#ay or 9ma@on

#rowse the forums

Go shopping

"emori@e a poem with meaning

=earn to swear in another language

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=ook up words in a dictionary

*lay hideandseek with your siblings

Go outside and watch the clouds roll by

*lan a party

:ind out if any concerts will be in your area

"ake your own dance routine

Trace your hand on a piece of paperH on your thumb, write something you like to look

atH on your inde( finger, write something you like to touchH on your middle finger, write your

favorite scentH on your ring finger, write something you like the taste ofH on your pinky finger,

write something you like to listen toH on your palm, write something you like about yourself 

*lan regular activities for your most difficult time of day

:inish homework before it’s due

Take a break from mental processing

 8otice black and white thinking

Get out on your own, get away from the stress

Go on YouTube

"ake a scrapbook 

olour in a picture or colouring book.

"ake a phone list of people you can call for support. 9llow yourself to use it.

*ay attention to your breathing >breath slowly, in through your nose and out through

your mouth?

*ay attention to the rhythmic motions of your body >walking, stretching, etc.?

=earn A9=T signals >hungry, angry, lonely, tired?

hoose a random obCect, like a paper clip, and try to list +7 different uses for it

*ick a subCect and research it on the web alternatively, pick something to research

and then keep clicking on links, trying to get as far away from the original topic as you can.

Take a small step towards a goal you have.

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Reorgani@e your room

 8ame all of your soft toys

*lay the 9O game >*ick a category ie. 9nimals, and think of an animal for every letter 

of the alphabet

Aave a lush warm bubble bath with candles<

Do some knitting

Do some house hold chores

"lternati#es that are completely !i-arre. "t the least, you*ll ha#e a laugh)

 

rawl on all fours and bark like a dog or another animal

Run around outside screaming

=augh for no reason whatsoever 

"ake funny faces in a mirror 

0ithout turning orange, self tan

*luck your eyebrows

*ut faces on apples, oranges, or other sorts of food

Go to the @oo and name all of the animals

olor on the walls

#low bubbles

*ull weeds in the garden

"lternati#es for when you*re feeling guilty, sad, or lonely)

 

ongratulate yourself on each minute you go without self harming

Draw or paint

=ook at the sky

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!nstead of punishing yourself by self harming, punish yourself by not self harming

all a friend and ask for company

#uy a cuddly toy

Give someone a hug with a smile

*ut a face mask on

0atch a favorite T4 show or movie

'at something ridiculously sweet

Remember a happy moment and relive it for a while in your head

Treat yourself to some chocolate

Try to imagine the future and plan things you want to do

=ook at things that are special to you

ompliment someone else

"ake sculptures

0atch fish

Youtube funny videos<

=et yourself cry

*lay with a pet

Aave or give a massage

!magine yourself living in a perfect home and describe it in your mind

!f you’re religious, read the bible or pray

=ight a candle and watch the flame >but please be careful?

Go chat in the chat room

9llow yourself to cryH crying is a healthy release of emotion

9ccept a gift from a friend

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arry tokens to remind you of peaceful comforting thingsIpeople

Take a hot bath with bath oil or bubbles

url up under a comforter with hot cocoa and a good book 

"ake affirmation tapes inside you that are good, kind, gentle >ometimes you can do

this by writing down the negative thoughts and then physically rewriting them into positive

messages?

"ake a tray of special treats and tuck yourself into bed with it and watch T4 or read

0rite words in the sand for them to be washed away

"lternati#es for when you*re feeling panicy or scared)

 

Mee, hear and feelN/ things, then -, then + and countdown to one which will make

you focus on your surroundings and will calm you down

=isten to soothing musicH have a D with motivational songs that you can listen to

"editate or do yoga

 8ame all of your soft toys

Aug a pillow or soft toy

Ayper focus on something

Do a Mreality check listN P write down all the things you can list about where you are

now >e.g. !t is the 5th 8ovember )77-, !’m a room and everything is going to be alright?

0ith permission, give someone a hug

Drink herbal tea

runch ice

Aug a tree

Go for a walk if it’s safe to do so

:eel your pulse to prove you’re alive

Go outside and attempt to catch butterflies or li@ards

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*ut your feet firmly on the floor 

9ccept where you are in the process. #eating yourself up, only makes it worse

Touch something familiarIsafe=eave the room

=ay on your back in bed comfortably >eyes closed?, and breathe in for -, hold for ),

out for -, hold for ). "ake sure to fill your belly up with air, not your chest. !f your shoulders

are going up, keep working on it. 0hen you’re comfortable breathing, put your hand on your

 belly and rub up and down in time with your breathing. !f your mind wanders to other things,

move it back to focusing $8=Y on the synchroni@ed movement of your hand and breathing.

Give yourself permission toQ. >Beep it safe?

reate a safe place for yourself and take yourself there

=ay on the grass and watch the clouds. You can try to make pictures with them too.

=ight a candle and watch the flame

"lternati#es that will hopefully mae you thin twice a!out harming yourself)

 

Think about how you don’t want scars

Treat yourself nicely

Remember that you don’t have to hurt yourself Cust because you’re thinking about self

harm

reate a safe place to go

9cknowledge that self harm is harmful behavior say M! want to hurt myselfN rather

than M! want to cutN

Repeat to yourself M! don’t deserve to be hurtN even if you don’t believe it

Remember that you always have the choice not to cut it’s up to you what you do

Think about how you may feel guilty after self harming

Remind yourself that the urge to self harm is impulsive you will only feel like cutting

for short bursts of time

9void temptation

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Get your friends to make you friendship bracelets wear them around your wrists to

remind you of them when you want to cut

#e with other people

"ake your own list of things to do instead of self harm

"ake a list of your positive character traits

#e nice to your family, who in return, will hopefully be nice to you

*ut a bandaid on the area where you’d like to self harm

Recogni@e and acknowledge the choices you have 8$0

*ay attention to the changes needed to make you feel safe

 8otice MchoicesN versus MdilemmasN

=ose the Mshouldcouldhave toN words. TryQ M0hat ifN

Biss the places you want to A or kiss the places you have healing wounds. !t can be a

reminder that you care about myself and that you don’t want this

hoose your way of thinking, try to resist following old thinking patterns

The #utterfly proCect draw a butterfly on the place>s? that you would self harm and if

the butterfly fades without selfharming, it means it has lived and flown away, giving a sense

of achievement. 0hereas if you do selfharm with the butterfly thereH you will have to wash it

off. !f that does happen, you can start again by drawing a new one on. You can name the

 butterfly after someone you love.

0rite the name of a loved one a friend, family member, or anyone else who cares

about youS and write their name where you want to self harm. 0hen you go to self harm

remember how much they care and wouldn’t want you to harm yourself.

think about what you would say to a friend who was struggling with the same things

you are and try to be a good friend to yourself.

"ake a bracelet out duct tape, and put a line on it every day >$r any period of time?

you go without self harm. 0hen it’s full of lines, take it off and make a chain out of all the

 bracelets and hang it up somewhere where you can be reminded of your great progress.

"lternati#es that gi#e the illusion of seeing something similar to !lood)

 

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Draw on yourself with a red pen or body paint, or go to a site such as this, where you

Jcut’ the screen >be aware that some users may find this triggering, so view with caution?

over yourself with plasters where you want to cut

Give yourself a henna or fake tattoo

"ake MwoundsN with makeup, like lipstick 

Take a small bottle of liuid red food coloring and warm it slightly by dropping it into

a cup of hot water for a few minutes. ;ncap the bottle and press its tip against the place you

want to cut. Draw the bottle in a cutting motion while suee@ing it slightly to let the food

color trickle out.

Draw on the areas you want to cut using ice that you’ve made by dropping si( or

seven drops of red food color into each of the icecube tray wells.

*aint yourself with red tempera paint.

Jut’ your skin with nail polish >it feels cold, but it’s hard to get off?

;se red food colouring on your skin

"lternati#es to help you sort through your feelings)

 

*hone a friend and talk to them

"ake a collage of how you feel

 8egotiate with yourself 

!dentify what is hurting so bad that you need to e(press it in this way

0rite your feelings in a diary

:ree write >0rite down whatever you’re thinking at that moment, even if it doesn’t

make sense?

"ake lists of everything such as blessings in your life

"ake a notebook of song lyrics that you relate to

all a hotline

0rite a letter to someone telling them how you feel >but you don’t have to send it if

you decide not to?

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tart a grateful Cournal where everyday you write down three good things that

happenedI things that you accomplishedI are grateful forI made you smile. "ake sure the

 Cournal is strictly for positive things. Then when you feel down you can go back and look at it.

oos)

 

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