Find a healthy way to deal with the urge to self-harm. Depending on the emotional triggers related to self-harm, try some of these ideas to help you find healthy, creative ways to deal:
If you cut to express pain or intense emotion:
Try painting or drawing
Keep a journal to write about your thoughts and
feelings
Write a poem or song
If you cut to calm/soothe yourself:
Take a hot bath or shower
Listen to calming music
Spend time playing with a pet
Wrap yourself in a warm blanket
If you cut because you feel disconnected and numb:
Call a friend to talk
Get some friends together and do something fun
Take a cold shower
Chew something with a very strong taste (like
peppermint, grapefruit peel, or gum)
If you cut to release tension/vent anger:
Exercise
Squeeze a stress ball or squish Play-Doh
Rip something up, like a magazine
Make some noise by playing an instrument