what do you do to stop yourself?

[tombstone]

just woundering what people do when they find themselves wanting to self harm.

when i manage not to, its because i've gotton out the house to see some friends (who don't know about all this), or just gotton out to clear my head.

[1_21Guns]

either taken a walk, or if i cant get out, i run around distracting myself from the idea, find a million and one things to do, tell myself after i've done it all i can cut, and usually by the time i've done it all, i dont feel like doing it anymore.

[DarkHorses]

Most of the time I will listen to some calming music that makes me feel better. There's a couple bands that can really help me when I'm feeling the need to hurt myself, and they're the first thing I turn to when I feel depressed. Music can really help. So can simply talking to someone about how you're feeling and relieving yourself of the pain that way rather than hurting yourself. There's a lot of things you can do, and different things helps different people. I think it's important to try different things when you're feeling depressed, experiment with what helps you most.

[Asylum]

the only thing that works for me is pouring ice cold water on me, so i'm soaked and shaking because that's all you can focus on is ahhh!!! i'm cold and wet :/

[Painted_Indian_Horse]

i think about what the scars will look like. i imagine that what if, in the next few days, i'll meet a really awesome guy and we start dating. how do i explain scars like that? chances are he'll just think i'm crazy. so yeah, try thinking about who might see the cuts in the future. whether you plan on covering them or not, nothing ever goes as planned. also, and this is probably just me, i think about my horses. when my cuts are fresh, they hurt like a bitch and i can't do any barn work properly. you just have to envision how it will get in the way of your daily life. how many times has any one of us in this forum awkwardly tried to explain off curious looking scars all over our bodies? pretty damn sure it's a big number.

i hope this helps you, and if you need it i can give you my email address. :)

[georgiamay]

Find something else to focus on by making yourself busy with anything you can find. Clean or tidy the house, stuff like that. Or I'll call a friend to have a chat, and by the end of the conversation I've thought about it a little and I don't want to do it anymore.
I take my dog for a walk, and listen to happy energetic music.

Just do anything to keep yourself busy. Find anything that needs doing and doing, it works for me most of the time.

[ForgetMeNot]

I try reading, or I blast my music to the point where I can't think. It helps.

[Harley Quinn]

http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/announcement.php?f=16&a=52

use that as it contains distractions and helpful information that you may need, when i want to stop myself i use ice, or water. But also using the elastic band method, where whenever there's an urge or something, you snap and this does help, though you'll have to be careful because this too can cause damage.

[Kaius]

I tend to tear things up. Paper, clothes etc.. I've now lost numerous t-shirts, and at one point a pillow.

[kidkizzet]

I used to find listening to music would help. Writing was always a good one - sometimes I'd just write down my feelings to get things out and then tear up the paper, other times I'd write poems and songs, and sometimes I'd write emails even if I never ended up sending them. Oh, and I've lost numerous CDs after snapping them in half several times.

[tombstone]

the only thing that works for me is pouring ice cold water on me, so i'm soaked and shaking because that's all you can focus on is ahhh!!! i'm cold and wet :/

holding an ice cube as hard as i can has helped me before.

i think about what the scars will look like. i imagine that what if, in the next few days, i'll meet a really awesome guy and we start dating. how do i explain scars like that? chances are he'll just think i'm crazy. so yeah, try thinking about who might see the cuts in the future. whether you plan on covering them or not, nothing ever goes as planned. also, and this is probably just me, i think about my horses. when my cuts are fresh, they hurt like a bitch and i can't do any barn work properly. you just have to envision how it will get in the way of your daily life. how many times has any one of us in this forum awkwardly tried to explain off curious looking scars all over our bodies? pretty damn sure it's a big number.

i hope this helps you, and if you need it i can give you my email address. :)

the scars don't really bother me that much, i think its just a price you have to pay. im good at hiding them, its remarkable how people don't see them when im wearing short sleeved shirts.

http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/announcement.php?f=16&a=52

use that as it contains distractions and helpful information that you may need, when i want to stop myself i use ice, or water. But also using the elastic band method, where whenever there's an urge or something, you snap and this does help, though you'll have to be careful because this too can cause damage.

didn't see that, thanks i'll give it a read.

thanks for all the replies :)

[Holding On*]

This is my personal list of things to do for if I feel like I will relapse:
• Go and do something productive such as chores, homework, catch up with friends etc
• Read a book
• Use alternative strategies for 'bad habit' prevention (Elastic band etc) {Bad habit is a term I use instead of saying self harm/ eating problems (ednos)}
• Talk to friends etc, (Those who understand and will help!)
• Go for a walk
• Do some sports
• Retail therapy, if I have the money!!
• Invite a friend over
• Go back to a counselor if it gets bad
• Write things down on paper etc (Rant)

[enjoying_my_insanity]

i text my bf about it or call one of my close friends who helps a lot

[misery_business]

When Im alone I scream until I end up laughing haha.
Also I tear up paper or anythining when Im in a kinda bad mood...
Also if it's raining I run around in the rain listening to my ipod.
Throwing pillows at the wall really angry.
Cutting paper.
Jump on my bed listening to music really really loud.

[samuel235]

atm i cannot stop my self, been doing it for 7-8 years its hard to stop my self

[douglous]

I don't really understand this.

I've never had the desire. :(

Have you had councilloring/help?

[samuel235]

if your on about me had 3 councilors
and it didnt work

[tombstone]

I don't really understand this.

I've never had the desire. :(

Have you had councilloring/help?

I'm glad you've never had the desire. I hope you never do.

I have had neither councilloring or help. There are only a few people who know.

[htmlrulezd00d]

i think about how... my boyfriend loves every part of me, and if i messed up any part of it, i'd be letting him down.

[htmlrulezd00d]

but that's starting to wear off.