What is the best way to distract youself from wanting to self-harm?
46 Answers
Last Updated: 04/01/2019 at 11:35pm
Moderated by
Kelley Goodwin, Psychotherapy/Art Therapist, LPC, ATR
Licensed Professional Counselor
Attachment and psychodynamic focused, I provide the client a connected, affirming, and protective experience to creatively integrate trauma and explore their true self.
Top Rated Answers
Although it can be hard to stop self-harming, there are many ways to distract yourself from doing it. You can go and talk to somebody, go for a walk, rub ice on the place you usually self-harm, take a cold bath, hitting a punching bag, do some journalism about your feelings, creating artwork, put elastic bands on armas,wrists, or legs and flick them. But the most important thing is to talk to somebody.
Anonymous
November 25th, 2014 1:30pm
• HIT a cushion / punch bag / throw a cushion against a wall
• Smash a water melon
• Kick a football against a wall
• Squeeze ice really hard
• Squeeze a stress ball
• Tear up a newspaper/phone directory
• Play loud music and dance energetically – be as wild as you like
• Draw on the place you want to cut with red marker pen, fake blood or watered down food
colouring
• Write words on yourself with a red marker pen
• Spend some energy - go for a walk/swim/go to the gym/ride a bike/go running
Anonymous
March 21st, 2016 5:41am
I like to carry a notebook with me wherever I go. When I feel the urge to do something, I busy open my notebook and write down my feelings and explain why I am feeling this. If you do.t like to write, find something that you are passionate about, maybe that'll help.
In my opinion, I think the best way to not think about wanting to self-harm is to do the things that you like and release endorphins that make you feel relieved, safe and happy. Doing your favourite things can also make you feel better about your situation.
Anonymous
May 9th, 2016 4:37am
Music is a grand way to distract yourself from everything. Especially during self harm urges, you should listen to music you won't get triggered to.
If you feel like self-harming, try to wait 5 minutes before you do. Once 5 minutes are up, you see if you can go another 5 minutes.
Exersising helps me alot. You could also squeeze an ice cube, punch a pillow, draw on your wrist or thigh with a red marker, or try the butterfly method. Pm me if u need more suggestions or someone to talk to :)
There are several ways to distract yourself from wanting to self harm. But the thing is, usually different things work for different people. For me, the best things that help me are: reading, listening to music, writing and painting. But I think the most helpful thing I do to stop myself is talking to someone. You don't have to talk about your problems; just talking to someone who cares can distract you from anything bad.
I liked making huge playlists on Spotify and listening to every song. It really distracted me and helped to focus my attention on something positive.
Anonymous - Expert in Self-Harm
December 17th, 2014 5:26pm
Things that keep your mind or hands busy are helpful. Plenty of things can serve as a distraction: Cleaning out under fingernails, playing a video game, going for a walk, writing feelings down, calling a friend, making some tea, and many more!
try to channel that energy into something else. learn to start a new healthy habit that can replace self-harm, such as drawing on yourself or something else along those lines.
Anonymous
August 31st, 2015 5:59pm
Call a self harm hotline (1-800-366-8288). Also find a new hobby that makes you happy and consumes time.
For me, I just listen to calming, positive music. I also like to hold ice tightly in my hand and that usually helps me for the most part. Another thing I usually do is force myself to be around positive, uplifting people that I know will make me smile or laugh.
I feel as if the best way to distract yourself is to do something you are passionate about to distract you! It could be drawing, reading, exercising, anything!
Anonymous
September 15th, 2015 1:18pm
Every time, I'd tried to harm myself, I'd think of what I'd say to other people when they'd ask me how the scars came. I'd know that pain would do me no good. Just raise lots of questions in other people's minds.
I worked with a few kids about this and they've done really well. It started with just a rubber band or a hair tie on the wrist and snapping it when you had the urge and then it moved into more creative outlets like crafts or music or dancing, etc.
I think the best way is to go for a run or be with your friends, one think I do when I really get that urge is that I get a sharpie or a lipstick and draw lines on my arm.
Exercising has always been a massive help for me. Cardio, especially running, has helped. There's also drawing, in which I could direct my pain into what I was drawing rather than my own skin. I also found that things such as cooking and arts and crafts were good, because they both involved things I could use to self-harm. I was so focused on what I was doing and how I wanted it to be awesome, which overwhelmed the temptation to self harm. Some of these might work, but everyone has to find their own method of distraction - these things can be based off the individual's passions and interests rather than things that other people do.
From my experience the best way is to be distracted- in a good way of course. Schedule activities that you enjoy to keep yourself busy and happy. Take care!
If you are wanting to harm yourself try using a pen or punching a pillow. This helps without physically hurting yourself
There are many methods one might use as a distraction. Some things are just doing activities you enjoy - like going for a walk or listening to music or playing a video game. Other options could be to draw on yourself where you're wanting to hurt yourself instead of hurting yourself. Maybe drawing a butterfly (the Butterfly Project) or writing the name of someone you care about to deter yourself. Others have used snapping rubber bands or even ice on your skin to prevent cutting.
Anonymous
December 6th, 2016 6:23pm
Personally I find colouring in my adult colouring book to be a very good way of distracting myself. It focuses my mind on something else and keeps my hands busy. It might sound silly but I find it helps me when I'm feeling like I want to self-harm.
If you feel an even stronger urge to self-harm, try the following harm minimisation tips:
Use a red felt tip pen to mark where you might usually cut
Hit pillows or cushions, or have a good scream into a pillow or cushion to vent anger and frustration
Rub ice across your skin where you might usually cut, or hold an ice-cube in the crook of your arm or leg
Put elastic bands on wrists, arms or legs and flick them instead of cutting or hitting
Have a cold bath or shower
Anonymous
March 21st, 2017 1:46pm
Trying to engage yourself in activities and hobbies you love is one way to go. Do things that make you happy the most. Spend time with your loved ones and talk to them. Do everything that makes you happy. Or try doing it.
Read a book, listen to music, sing a song, recite the alphabet, braid your hair, find some funny videos on YouTube.
Anonymous
July 16th, 2018 1:58am
The best way to distract myself from wanting to self harm is drawing on the places where I want to self harm. It helps even more if you use a pen so it will cause a little pain but won't hurt you.
Personally, I listen to music, watch tv, surf the internet. Anything that requires a certain level of concentration
Everybody has their own tricks but I find that being with a friend in person, or even on the phone is very effective. If you would like to have tricks to use then squeezing ice cubes, hitting pillows, taking cold showers, and snapping a rubber band at your wrist seem to be moderately effective, but remember, its different for everybody!
Think of all the good times and think o the people you'll hurt if you hurt yourself. Just think of how much it wil hurt afterward..
I would think of the positives, never the negatives. Find a good place to just stop, and think. Finally, realize that people will love you for who you are. You are you. You are beautiful. Never change for someone else. And things aren't always your fault, try not to pin them on you.
Related Questions: What is the best way to distract youself from wanting to self-harm?
why does cutting make me feel better but then bad afterwards?I harm myself on purpose. I never do it because I need to cope, I do it because I like the pain and like to have something on my body. I know I should stop, but I don't want to. Why is that?Does cutting for only a few months and stopping make me any less of a self-harmer?How do I explain scars when a young child asks about them?What do I say to people that ask about my scars without making them uncomfortable?How to deal with self-harm alone?Why do some wounds turn purple?Is scratching yourself with a paper clip on purpose considered self harm when you don’t bleed?Whenever I bandage myself with rolled gauze I can never get it tight enough, so it always ends up slipping off. I want to be able to bandage myself properly. Any tips?If I don't have a bandage big enough to cover a cut what else can I use?