How do you suppress urges?

[simka]

I am a 15 year old self harmer and I am trying to stop, just incase people wanted to know, I'm getting help through the school nurse and a couple of teachers who know about this are supporting me too. My parents don't know I am doing this and I don't intend to tell them for now.

I was just wondering how some of you stop urges from beating you? And how you just move past them? I can never get past 5 days without S/hing..

[georgiamay]

beating urges is often a very hard thing to do.

Once, I was having a huge urge, and you know what I did? I watched finding nemo. I know it sounds stupid, but the urges actually went, and I didn't hurt myself in the end.

Maybe find something like that? Something that will cheer you up. Honestly, it's hard to find, and watching finding nemo doesn't always work for me, but sometimes it does. Maybe call a friend, not to talk about your feeling and things like that, but just to chat. And while you're talking, think to yourself "why does this person like me?" And list all the good things about you in your head.

If you search "self harm distractions" on google, you'll find hundreds. Just try some of them out. If they don't work, try another one.

I'm always here if you need someone to talk to, just PM me. :)

[Mademoiselle Lola.]

distractions are really good.there's a section here,on the top.

[Keystone]

Hey,

like Lola and Georgiamay have said there a lot of advice for distractions out there. here's my experience:

Obviously the advice a give you may not work but i can tell you what works for me the best

The most effective thing I've found for me is having someone you can tell you are having urges. then they can either keep you company until it passes or talk can talk to you on the phone. I have a close friend who does this for me. Nurses and people such as teachers can be amazingly supportive but i've found that nothing beats a friend or family member. :)

if you aren't comfortable with doing this (it took me many years to tell one of my friends) then theres other stuff i used to do to help. The main thing to do is to find something that is comforting and takes your mind of the urges. This could be a favourite band or maybe a hobby like writing and painting.

it sounds a little weird but a lot of the time i end up listening to the dvd commentaries for the tv show "red dwarf" for some reason the familiar voices of the actors joking about with each other really helps.

something very important to remember is that you will not be able to beat the urges every time straight away, it takes time and you have to be forgiving of yourself when you cant beat them, you will get there eventually. you just have to remember you are doing your best

[VampiricShadow]

I'm glad adults know =) You could try texting a friend or listening to loud music and just letting yourself get lost in it... that helps me sometimes =)

Good luck <3

[Determined909]

When i get urges to harm myself i sit with my pet hamster because i know i can't do anything like that while holding another creature. I get them quite alot though and i know its hard, sometimes i dont beat them, others i do. You just got to really really want to do it, the first few times are hard i know but if you try YOUR hardest then you can beat this :) good luck

[Jupiter]

I once wrote the names of my friends and the words "DON'T DO IT." on my arms. I don't know if that helps at all. I find that focusing all of my thoughts on something else keeps me away from s/h'ing. I also have a locket that I write important dates inside of. I wrote the date I told someone I love them, the date I first s/h'd, and the day I told the same person I'd stop hurting myself. I look at it whenever I feel it, and it works well for me.
I hope it helps :3