Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

How do I stop the urges?

13 Answers Moderated by , Updated: Jul 3, 2018
Profile: ShadowOfAStar
ShadowOfAStar on Feb 28, 2015
...read more
Whatever works for you. Reading... color in a coloring book... drawing... writing poems. Something to distract your mind for about 15 minutes. Hopefully those urges will be gone by then. If not... move on to another activity. Or just find someone to talk to--if you don't feel like talking about your problems to your friends for whatever reason even just texting/calling a friend can take your mind off things
Dealing with self-harm?
Take the Free Wellness Quiz
Gain insight & track progress for anxiety & depression
Talk to a Licensed Therapist
Online chat & video therapy at your fingertips
Help keep 7 Cups free

Takes less than a minute. Keeps 7 Cups free for someone else.

A small contribution goes straight to keeping the community running.

Profile: LucVincent
LucVincent on Mar 4, 2015
...read more
I feel that urges for anything are usually the outcome of some underlying emotional cause. It is best to find out what is causing the urges, and work on that with a professional, rather than trying to stop the urge itself.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Apr 8, 2015
...read more
Urges are tough, from personal experience, but can be overthrown! Here is a link to an awesome resource with many coping skills and distractions for self harm: sirius-project.org/2011/08/16/distractions-and-alternatives-to-self-harm/ . There are so many out there, my personal favorites are doing things that make me happy (such as watching netflix, going for a run, dancing, singing obnoxiously in my shower, eating chocolate), taking to someone (to a listener on 7 cups, to a therapist/ counselor, a friend or family member), and silly things such as writing out my feelings then throwing the paper out, freezing an orange, then placing it on your wrist when I have an urge (You can use all your 5 senses for this one!), snapping a rubber band and drawing on my arm.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on May 11, 2015
...read more
Keep your hands busy. Find other things that soothe the feelings you get from self-harm. If it gives you a rush, try making a goal to ride every roller coaster out there. Things like that.
Profile: MishAJ
MishAJ on May 20, 2015
...read more
The best way to stop urges is to Divert your mind. It can be a small thing like taking a walk or planning something out with friends or even starting the hobby you never got a chance to do !
Profile: gypsysoul5
gypsysoul5 on Sep 1, 2015
...read more
I think the best way to stop urges is to divert your attention by focusing on productive activities.
Profile: peacefulmusic
peacefulmusic on Sep 4, 2015
...read more
you could try one of these alternatives http://sirius-project.org/2011/08/16/distractions-and-alternatives-to-self-harm/
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Nov 17, 2015
...read more
You replace those urges or negative habits with healthier positive ones. Once you feel an urge coming start doing that positive habit and distract yourself from the urge.
Profile: creativeForest56
creativeForest56 on Mar 15, 2016
...read more
Always find something else to do. Pet a cat, watch a movie, make some art, make some music. Anything to distract yourself.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Mar 21, 2016
...read more
Help to identify the trigger for the urge and reinforce good behavior when the person can themselves identify and stop before engaging in the activity.
Profile: Marianne1234
Marianne1234 on Aug 2, 2016
...read more
Having something else positive to make you think of that something instead of having the urges.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Oct 11, 2016
...read more
There are a number of ways that effectively stop urges. Drawing something, sucking ice blocks, taking a bath or a shower and just feeling the water on your skin. Talk to a close friend, and pat lots of cute puppies.
Profile: BeautyxP
BeautyxP on Apr 2, 2018
...read more
Stopping the urges is very hard. But, I have found it very helpful you tell yourself you have already stopped. Just every second you find yourself not doing tell yourself "I don't need this, I've stopped it."
Share a Helpful Insight
Sharing helps others and its therapeutic for you.
0/150 Minimum Characters
0/75 Minimum Words