Ideas to Help Avoid SI

[CFFosterAngel51]

I was thinking about some of the struggles to not self-injure depending upon how things are going. I thought that maybe making a list of things we can do to not SI would be beneficial for those times when we feel like hurting ourselves.

What healthy things have you done to help yourself not self-injure?

I've called a friend to talk (even if I didn't tell them what I was thinking).

Take care,
Kristen

 

[flyingsquirrel]

Pray.
That's what I do. It's been 18 months since I actually injured myself (I used to cut and burn a lot) but I still feel like it sometimes. I end up crying out to God to 'make it go away'. He does.

 

[HolyOne87]

Sometimes I talk to a friend, express my feelings in a form of poetry, or listen to music.

 

[CFFosterAngel51]

Pray.
That's what I do. It's been 18 months since I actually injured myself (I used to cut and burn a lot) but I still feel like it sometimes. I end up crying out to God to 'make it go away'. He does.

I do that a lot too... I try to pray more than when really struggling.

HolyOne87 Sometimes I talk to a friend, express my feelings in a form of poetry, or listen to music.

These are great ideas. I enjoy journaling, and I play computer games.

In Him,
Kristen

 

[mariachigirl]

This is becoming a cool list! I have powerwalked in the past to let out any anger. Prayer is also another "miracle worker for me." The whole idea is to get my focus off of the "muck" in my mind!

 

[CFFosterAngel51]

This is becoming a cool list! I have powerwalked in the past to let out any anger. Prayer is also another "miracle worker for me." The whole idea is to get my focus off of the "muck" in my mind!

You bring up a good point. I have read that exercise releases the same chemicals in the brain as self-injury releases so it could be a great option. Thanks for sharing what has helped you.

In Him,
Kristen

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

You bring up a good point. I have read that exercise releases the same chemicals in the brain as self-injury releases so it could be a great option. Thanks for sharing what has helped you.

In Him,
Kristen

It does indeed - so does singing and laughing (hard as they may be at times). I know a group that plan to laugh when they get together. They have no props or jokes or, really, anything remotely funny, but one person makes themselves laugh and the next starts and it continues on until people can't help but laugh. It's a little strange to watch, but can be effective.

 

[CFFosterAngel51]

It does indeed - so does singing and laughing (hard as they may be at times). I know a group that plan to laugh when they get together. They have no props or jokes or, really, anything remotely funny, but one person makes themselves laugh and the next starts and it continues on until people can't help but laugh. It's a little strange to watch, but can be effective.

I hadn't thought about laughter. I'm not sure I would join a group just to laugh, but I do know that at work or Sunday School if one of us start to laugh, it really is contagious. And it feels good to laugh!

 

[Pasat_14]

I was emailed a list of 151 things instead of cutting when I used to do it myself. Some of them are kinda weird but I'm sure you'd be able to find at least one to help you out.

1) Exercise, running ect.
2) Putting on fake tattoos
3) Drawing on yourself in red marker (make sure it's washable!)
4) Scribbling on sheets an sheets of paper
5) Writing (poetry, stories, journal, etc.)
6) Cuddling with a stuffed toy
7) Being with other people
8) Watching a favorite TV show (preferably a comedy)
9) Posting on web boards, and answering others' posts
10) Thinking about how I DON'T want scars for the summer
11) Painting your nails
12) Going to see a movie
13) Eating something ridiculously sweet (or any favorite food)
14) Doing school work
15) Surf the net
16) Go into chat rooms to talk
17) Call a friend and ask for company
18) Playing a musical instrument
19) Singing
20) Looking up at the sky (night is especially beautiful)
21) Making your own list of things to do instead of SI
22) Punching a punching bad (with gloves on)
23) Snapping a rubber band on your wrist (or hair band)
24) Cover yourself with band-aids where you want to cut
25) Mix warm water and red food colouring, and put in on your skin (feels and looks like blood)
26) Letting yourself cry (can be very difficult for some)
27) Sleep (only if you are tired)
28) A hot shower, or relaxing bath (no razors in the tub, though)
29) Play with a pet
30) Detangling yarn or necklaces
31) Re-organizing your room
32) Cleaning (hmmm...I very rarely use this one!)
33) Having a pillowfight with the wall (yes, neighbours may think you are crazy, but that's ok) 34) Knitting or sewing
35) Reading a good book
36) Dressing up very glamorous (make sure no one can walk in on you, though)
37) Colouring your hair
38) Listening to music (not angry music though-that can trigger)
39) Watching a candle burn (no playing with the flames!)
40) Finding someone else you can help out
41) Meditate
42) Watching a scary (but not bloody) movie.
43) Work on a website
44) Have a vivid fantasy love affair with a celebrity
45) Go somewhere very public
46) Bake cookies
47) Alphabetize your CD's
48) Chewing leather (especially if you SI by biting)
49) Buy a home Henna tatoo kit (peels off the next day-similar to skin picking)
50) Painting or drawing
51) Ripping paper into itty-bitty pieces
52) Hugs-(this one is very nice...)
53) Writting letters or email
54) Talk to yourself (or if that feels weird, buy a small tape recorder-I then feel like someone is listening)
55) Stroke nice fabrics
56) Hug a pillow
57) Hyperfocus on something like a rock, hand, etc.
58) fingerpaint
59) Scream real loud (I LOOOVE this one-just make sure no one is home)
60) Dance
61) Make hot chocolate (mmmmm....)
62) pop bubble wrap
63) play with modelling clay or Play-Dough
64) count to one hundred
65) Build a pillow fort
66) pop balloons
67) Hug yourself
68) Sex
69) Reading things in a different language
70) Going for a nice, long drive
71) Complete something you've been putting off
72) Drinking absurd amounts of tea
73) Breaking plastic plates
74) Tearing up socks
75) Throwing socks against the wall
76) Archery
77) Rock climbing
78) Take up a new hobby
79) Organise bills and such
80) Cook a meal
81) Go out for ice cream
82) Buy a stuffed animal (I collect Beanie Babies)
83) Look at pretty things-like flowers or artwork
84) Create Something
85) Pray
86) Throw socks against the wall
87) Make a list of blessings in your life
88) Read the Bible
89) Go to a friend's house
90) Take up fencing
91) Watch an old, happy movie
92) Call a Help hotline or your Therapist
93) Talk to someone close to you that knows
94) Throw a temper-tantrum
95) Hit things-other than yourself
96) Ride a bicycle
97) Polish silver or jewellery
98) Gardening or watering house plants
99) Memorizing German poetry (silly, but works!)
100) CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!
101) Feed the ducks or birds or squirrels, etc.
102) Draw on the walls
103) Play with facepaint
104) Do very Glamerous make-up
105) Colour with crayons
106) Memorise a novel or play or song
107) Put on boots and STAMP
108) Stretch
109) Find butterflies
110) Watch fish
111) Come up with baby names (even if you're not pregnant
112) Make mashed potatoes
113) Make a tape of your favorite songs
114) Name all of your stuffed animals
115) Go SHOPPING!!!!
116) Get into my PJ's and just veg.
117) Buy cheap teddy bears and take out anger onthem instead of self.
118) Throw everything (except glass) into the centre
119) Go to a loud concert
120) Play the 15 minute game (say you can't cut for 15 minutes, and when the time is up, start again)
121) Plan your wedding / prom
122) Hunt for stuff on Ebay (you can find ANYTHING there)
123) Alphabetize your books
124) Hunt for your perfect home in the paper
125) Take up Tai Chi
126) Try to make as many words out of your full name as possible, then do your friends names)
127) count ceiling tiles/lights
128) go clubbing
129) search ridiculous things on the web
130) colour-co-ordinate your wardrobe
131) do a home tan on yourself
132) sort all your photographs
133) colour (or scribble) over the pretty women in magazines
134) plan a dinner party
135) play with a slinky
136) but yourself some toys and play
137) start collecting comething
138) get a tattoo / peircing
139) play video/computer games
140) do a trash clean at your local park
141) Play on a swingset
142) go out and perforn a random act of kindness for someone
143) call up an old friend
144) write yourself an "I love you because" letter
145) put on fake nails
145) try to build something
146) re-arrange your house
147) go to a public place and people watch
148) go through all your old stuff
149) go bargain - hunting
150) smile at at least five people (you usually end up smiling genuinely yourself.)
151) go to the zoo and rename all the animals.

 

[whitedove7]

In the past when I felt like cutting myself, I would start and do the following:

1. reading scriptures that say what the Lord thinks of me

2. check to see what I'm thinking about that might be triggers or connectiosn of things in the past that made me feel emotional and try to think on someone else.

3. I would get busy or talk to a friend that knew about my SI and she would help me walk out of it if it was too difficult.

4. I would see myself as the lord's little girl and that I'm special.

Those are things I did in the past to stop cutting.

 

[inHisgripkim]

I have friend who battles cutting and she would hold ice cubes in her hands or get a red erasable marker and draw on herself when she felt the urge come over her.