1. Short Term:
Have someone to be acountable to, a friend, partner(s). Someone that will not gudge you if you SI. Be truthfull. This worked well for me.
2 Long Term:
Find a good councelor/psychiatrist and focus on replacing SI with a good, productive coping mechanisms. This will take work on your part, so do it for yourself, do it when you are ready.

missmedia- I really enjoyed reading that list.. I think I could do a lot of those things. Might as well try! :) Thank you.

more tips -

write about it instead.

i'm writing a book, and the main character struggles from si and a couple of other things. i've also got a couple of short stories that include high stress trauma situations and dissociating. they help me cope. journal, write poetry, write stories..it's better to show the world the experience of self-injury, trauma, and abuse, instead of internalize it and further harm yourself. so much more productive to educate!!!

draw! it doesn't matter if you don't have talent. just draw! draw your feelings, draw whatever you want.

Paint! studies show a link between healing and painting. it feels good, and it's hard to explain. paint! the scene strawberry fields forever in across the universe is a good example of how to use painting (not the pot) to cope.


the general chat boards on RYL! They are awesome.

Along that vein, do silly surveys. Long ones..

I like the earlier tip of lighting incense and watching the calming smoke.

write down a list of everything you've been blessed with.

watch tv.

take a bath, no sharps.

think about your goal.

for some people it's helpful to count days, for some its not. i like it.

get exercise every day, because it will help your body regulate itself and can help with moods, which can just worsen urges.

same with food. it's amazing how much it can actually help.

whenever you feel like injuring, do something pampering for the very part of hte body you were going to injure.
special lotion
a bath
the spa
manicure
pedicure
massage
wash your hands
hand massage.

it will reteach you after a while on how to cope.

play with your cat or dog or bird, any other type of pet.

nature tends to help, so go swinging in the park maybe, go laying in the grass under a big tall tree...

naps. naps solve everything.

your list are very helpfull :-)

thank you! :)

lately, i've been finding that cleaning helps with stress relief and allows me to think.

I just think of the reasons why I don't want to self-harm and think of how well I'm doing. :]

In the past, I've drawn on my arms with red pen, and then 'dressed' it, as I would if I had cut. It makes it seem like the ritual hasn't been broken, but I also know that I haven't physically hurt myself, but seeing the bandages and everything helps alot.

I also write 'thank you' lists. I'll write the name of someone who I love, and then write a reason to thank them, and a really good or happy memory that we've shared together, and carry on until I can read it back and laugh and smile.

I email too. ^_^

tie a string on the part of the body you want and never take it off and promise you will not cut as long as it tied to you:-)

i don't recommend sticking your fingers in ice cream, and holding ice cubes, or the rubber band method. every psychologist i've talked to considered these borderline self-harm. Only do things that don't hurt! remember you're trying to retrain yourself.

Also, do something you feel accomplished with. Did I already say this? Hum. Feelings of accomplishment can be boasted in your mind when you're feeling icky.

ride the wave- say ok i can do it if i still feel like it in 15 minutes, then after that 15 mins is over if you still feel like it, set another 15minutes. sometimes i pop a dvd in and say ok i have to last till this movie is over.

I always, when I feel the urge to cut myself, draw a little black X on my wrists to remind me not to do anything. In the very beginning I would use a rubber band as well, but I figured I was still hurting myself, so I quit that too

If I'm calm enough, I'll get in my car, blast some music and drive!!! I love driving. I usually combine it with some errands so I don't waste too much gas.

Baking is lovely.

And washing dishes by hand (look I have no idea why).

Accomplishing something.

Yes yes yes.....cleaning in general is great...its like a physical manifestation of cleaning/clearing your mind.....or maybe not...who knows?! But i was mostly yesing to the driving with music blaring and windows down is the best....(as long as your safe of course)!

yeah cleaning and driving too. last night i was having a hard time so i just popped in a movie.

i've told friends at school, one of whom is trying to stop too. Whenever i'm urgy and at school, i work out how long its been since i have and they encourage me to keep going. One of my other friends who i tell has even said she's going to buy me something special when i reach 3 months =]

stay around people...cuz I've never cut with a lot of people watching...so just stay around your friends or in public! where people can see you!

or the exact opposite.

:jumpin: {YES there is a use to that avatar :P}

I say to myself "today, I am committed to loving myself enough to keep me safe"
Then it's not a big, daunting goal of forever. Just today. And then I say it again the next day. One day at a time. Or if necessary, you could replace 'today' with 'this minute', 'this hour', 'right now' whatever.

remember that you only have to make it one minute at a time.
working out does wonders, too, because it releases endorphins which shoo away the urges. (IE it does what SIing would probably do for you)

I like to sing or just be creative. It helps me to forget the pain I might be experiencing. If I can find a good book to read, sing a favorite song at full blast, talk to a friend about happy stuff, or maybe turn on a favorite or new movie, I feel a LOT better and after I've distracted myself for a while, the urge disappears. :)