Advice

@Selenaflores101

Hiya!

While this doesn't always work for me, it does work a surprising amount of the time. I start naming very specific items that I can see. (I realize that this might sound dumb, but it's actually from a cognitive behavior therapy course).

For example, right now: I see a green cup, I see a purple ribbon, I see an orange dog toy, etc etc

I'll continue naming the color and object one after another without stopping. Often I'll go for a little while until my mind says "this is dumb", but then my mind realizes that while I was concentrating on naming all that random stuff, I actually calmed down a little bit. 

It is still considered sh but it helps and is less harmful then a lot of other methods try biting your hand, not hard but just a small weak bite to prove to yourself that you are here and can make it without doing anything to perminitly mark your body or hurt yourself badly until you can get help it works for me, and it might for you? 

hi there 💖

i'm sorry to hear you feel the need to hurt yourself like that. there's a lot of things you could try out - like crushing a cube of ice in your hands (it's said to bring the same sensation as cutting), drawing on the part you want to cut with a red pen, doing something you really like, listening to your favorite song, stuff like that

what @akor mentioned is great too, it helps take your mind away from what you're feeling in the present and comes especially handy when you're in a panic attack (it's called the 5-4-3-2-1 method, you should look it up!)

but the most helpful thing you could do by far, is to talk to someone close to you that really cares. its often times overwhelming thoughts or recollections of hurtful events that cause us to cut, it provides a temporary relief from the pain we experience in the present. talking to someone about them helps get it out and about, and not bottled up inside like it was before. and its okay if you don't feel comfortable talking at the moment, you can always pen your feelings down too. you'll start to see that they don't bother you as much 💖

would you like to tell us what usually pushes you to self harm? if you're okay with telling us, we're all here to listen to you 💖

take care

@Selenaflores101

@Selenaflores101 practice writing your thoughts. i tend to put the entire urge into pages. it helps. hope you find something helpful as well 💙