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Ways to Resist Self Harm

This blog post is adapted from a Tumblr post I wrote some time ago. It details some ways to resist self harm, for those of us that struggle with it, that I’ve picked up over the years from therapy, blogs, books, etc. They don’t always work for me, but they’ve helped a lot. Hopefully some of them will work for you, too.
1. Stop self harming and put away/ walk away from whatever you're using to self harm. Put it somewhere hard to get to if necessary.
2. Keep a list of positive coping mechanisms that work for you. Employ coping mechanisms such as: 
  • Draw wherever you want to cut. Use marker, since pens can be used to hurt yourself!
  • Hold an ice cube to your skin. This provides a strong sensation that is grounding and can be painful.
  • Wear a rubber band on your wrist and flick yourself with it. This one never worked for me, but some people swear by it.
  • Rub a body brush or soft-bristled hair brush where you want to cut. Try different brushes, but make sure the bristles won’t hurt you. The stinging sensation is similar to scratching yourself in self harm.
  • Try distraction. Try watching a show, calling a friend, leaving the house, playing with a pet, etc.
  • Try other strong sensations. Have a cup of tea. Take a shower/bath. Go for a run.
  • Determine in your mind that doing it is not an option. Sometimes closing that door can help some.
  • Contact a friend for support. Determine with a friend ahead-of-time that they are okay with being contacted in this situation, as well as how they can best support you, and then reach out to them when you're having trouble. 
Don’t be afraid to seek help. In the US, texting “HOPE” to 741-741 will connect you with a trained crisis worker, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. If you share this or comment, add crisis resources for your own country, please!
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