Alternatives for self injury- scratching and cutting?

Question

I am 17 years old and have been self injuring for 2 years.
I take meds, see a pyschiatist, and my parents know.
I have told one other friend.
I am trying to stop scratching and cutting, but still have plenty of urges, I am looking for alternatives to self injury.

Answer 1

First off, you need to see a counselor in addition to a psychiatrist-psychiatrists can do the meds to help with an underlying psychiatric disorder, but they really don't usually have much to offer regarding self-injury. Meds can sometimes help, but usually are of limited effectiveness for this particular symptom. Here are some suggestions to help you get started stopping from previous posts I've made on the subject:

Just a couple of ideas to help get you started-try to stop in small steps. Set yourself a goal to not cut for a certain time period and when you've mastered that, set yourself a goal to refrain for longer periods, depending on how frequently you are cutting. Take it one day, one hour at a time if necessary. You can do this with each episode when you feel the impulse to cut in order to increase your self-control each time you feel the desire. What you'll also find is that as you go for longer and longer periods of time without giving in to the urge to cut, you'll become more aware of all your feelings and what is driving them and therapy can really help you to understand it better and give you options to consider. Ultimately you need to make a choice to stop the behavior or it won't stop. But for starters, try making a choice to refrain for a little longer than usual and challenge yourself to extend the time for longer and longer intervals. Setting a goal to stop can be daunting, but breaking it down into steps usually works and it allows you gradual access to your emotions so you can learn alternate methods of coping a little at a time.

Also, remove and get rid of all the things with which you regulary cut. Many people have certain items they use all the time and it becomes like a ritual. Removing these things will help you gain delay time by not having them readily accessible. It won't prevent you from getting other objects, but it will decrease the likelihood that you'll act on impulse alone.

Another option that has worked for some folks is to take a doll or stuffed animal that you love and cut it instead and then stitch it up or bandage it. It allows you to vent your feelings, but also helps you recognize and empathise with the pain you are inflicting by doing this and that in turn helps develop understanding towards yourself and gives you an opportunity to engage in actions designed to help heal the hurt. Loving something else, even a stuffed animal, is often a path towards learning to love and care for yourself.

Rubber bands, drawing a red line with a marker or ice are substitutes and some folks do find this helpful, but ultimately you need to break away from the cycle of causing yourself pain in order to numb up your emotions.

One other thought to consider. What you experience when you cut is really more like relief from pain than it is like truly feeling happy. The absence of pain is not the same as feeling happy, so don't settle for less than really being happy. Good luck!!!!

Answer 2

don't listen to the people here who are being jerks. I know most people who cut don't do it for attention, and even if you were doing it for attention that shows that you weren't in a good situation anyway otherwise you would be able to get the type of attention you need without cutting.

I'm glad you're seeing a psychaitrist, but keep in mind that meds won't fix everything. You will still have to deal with the emotions that are hurting you so much. I think you should also have someone you talk to about this on a regular basis such as a counselor or a spiritual leader. They may be able to help you deal with some of your pain.

The best alternatives are going to be the one's you think of on your own. When I was in the hospital for SI they gave me a really long list of things to do instead, and honestly if you've done any looking at all you've probably heard them all: call a friend, listen to music, go for a walk....I would always try these and sometimes they'd work sometimes not. But I have finally found something that works for me everytime but beleive me it took awhile.

I would also recommend seeking inpatient help if it has gotten really bad. There is a wonderful program called S.A.F.E. Alternatives that is specificly for self-injury. I went through that program and it saved me. I honestly feel that it gave me my life back.

Good luck on finding a solution for yourself!

Answer 3

Alternatives To Self Harm

Answer 4

First, stop and think about what is triggering the habit. Talk to someone you can trust and who will be there for you about what triggers it. Think about something good. Take a walk when you have the urge. Ask your parents to buy something that you can destroy when you have this urge Maybe a pillow or paper or a squeegy ball to squeeze. Do you have these urges when your med wears off? Do something when you feel it is wearing off. Do something you enjoy, play a sport to release that energy. volleyball helps b/c you're active and at the same time can HIT that ball to release that energy. Just some suggestions that came to the top of my head. Have your parents make a reward system for controlling your urge for self-injury or even make a reward system yourself. It doesn't have to be money, maybe allowing more time with your friend or doing something you like to do when you have controlled the urge for a day, then increase it to control for a week, and so forth. This is a win-win situation. Just suggestions. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Okay bitches this person is not a troll, cutting is not meant for attention otherwise I bet you would all be doing it to! I have cut for 4 years now and I am going to a hospitle for it... DOES THAT MAKE ME A TROLL *****? eck em NO, it makes me a surviver! Whoever this is I wish I could tell you how much I care for people that self harm just because I know what it's like. I was abused from the day I was born I am now adopted and in a better place but this year I attempted suicide and succeded until my mom put me on stupid life support. I was legally dead for 3 days and now I am here typing this comment! Now that I have gotten help I want to help others so I can feel better about myself. Instid of cutting my therapist told me to write on myself were I want to cut, it trully does help and you can make beautiful art, I drew all up and down both legs and my right arm, If you want to just grab a pen or sharpie, whatever you have and just give it a whirl but I'm not going to force you to stop cutting. STAY STRONG AND LIVE LONG ! peace

Answer 6

I'm 22 and have been a self injurer for about 11 years. I currently have just over 4 months being SI free. (Which is 99% because I've been in a long term hospital for the past 4 months) I'm home now on a weekend pass, but I am doing well and should be getting out for good by the end of this month.

I have a long history of being in treatment and over the years I have heard literally hundreds of different "coping skills" That is what they try to train your way of thinking to be different. Have you heard of DBT therapy? It's especially for people who SI. I was in a DBT program for about 10 months and you really do learn a lot. Try doing some research on that and see if there are any programs in your area. With that being said, now I'll share some of the "coping skills" I have learned to do to replace the self injury...

read, journal, draw, paint, color, watch a comedy, eat your favourite food, listen to soothing music, come on line and chat with someone, call a friend, hotline, or any other person you can trust, get into a hobby, like collecting stamps or something, go shopping, take a walk, play with pets, hang out with little kids and play with them (that never fails to get me to smile) join clubs, sports and organizations, volunteer, sleep, play a game, learn new words out of the dictionary... this list goes on and on, but these are just some of the things I've heard/tryed.

I hope you will be successful in your recovery.
Good luck and take care!

Answer 7

Try putting a rubber band around your wrist (for a few minutes, max.) stretch and release, or hold an ice cube in both hands and grasp. Journalling your thoughts and feelings, or drawing & painting yourself can help (red is a popular color). Try cutting your favorite doll or stuffed toy, instead, feeling its pain, and then stitching it up, or bandaging it afterwards. Longer term, set yourself the goal of going a little while without scratching or cutting, when you feel the need, without doing anything that helps, then a little longer the next day (keep a record: mark it off if accomplished), and so on: you will become aware of the reasons why you self harm, and the longer you can leave it, the easier it will get. Practice for 15 - 20 mins, the mindfulness breathing method at http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/ or gaze at a burning candle in a quiet, darkened room for 20 mins. Best results with both of them are achieved if practiced for 3 times daily, preferably, morning, afternoon, and evening. See http://www.recoveryourlife.com/ & http://www.palace.net/~llama/psych/ (/psych/injury.html). Phone 1800 dont cut or 24 hr hotline [phone] Also see http://www.coolnurse.com/self_ (.com/self_esteem3.htm)

Answer 8

Aw, I really feel for you. I would suggest what seems the obvious- be alone as little as possible. Join a team, a club, or something. Just be around people, so you can't hurt yourself. Stay where your family is, and don't hang out alone in your room. Only go there to sleep. I suffer from a minor type of self-injuring behavior, and I know what you're going through. If you just keep busy, hopefully you just won't be able to hurt yourself.
I'm really sorry if that didn't help at all. Good luck.

Answer 9

STOP! There are a lot of people who do not want you to hurt yourself like that!!! Every time you have the urge to cut/scratch call a friend, write a poem about why you do it and how silly it is, draw a picture, listen to the radio, read a magazine,or run. I've heard running or taking up a sport is a good way to get all that energy out, and you'll become healthier as you do it! Continue to see your psychiatrist, and clue friends/family in on your progress/feelings. Good Luck and PLEASE STOP!!!

Answer 10

OK. I do the same and im the exact same age but i didnt have no real parents and my foster dad was abusive and perverted and im semi ok so cutting yourself is fine unless u cant handle being labeled. Doctors thing its a mental illness when it is just depression kicking into your mind and you start to see bad memories and you start to see bad future events that might happen. I personally like cutting wit razors but it is harmfull so you should have a punching back or a teddy bear to talk to or harm just dont blow it up.