Want to self-harm. PLEASE READ.?

I'd recommend staying with people. Make sure you're not by yourself. You can try snapping a rubber band on your wrist, squeezing a ice cube in your hand, FInd something to keep yourself distracted or find a good friend to go do something with.

Try to find something else to occupy your mind instead of cutting. Is there a funny movie you could watch? Do you like to draw or listen to music? You could also try holding an ice cube in your hand, or snapping a rubber band on the area you want to cut. If you want more ideas, check out this website: http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/DiscoverIt/Articl... If you want to talk about this more, please feel free to call the Boys Town National Hotline at 1-800-448-3000. The hotline is open 24/7, and our counselors are here to listen and help. Wishing you the best... MG, counselor

Well I cant tell you what to do and expect you to follow or obey, but I can tell you what I do to calm down, focus and not be impulsive or self harm. When I first feel the urge to self harm, I recognize it as an emotion, and know that these things pass, and I will feel differently if I use positive coping skills, also known as grounding techniques, or tools. As a person with Mental health issues, (Bipolar, or borderline ect) we can get carried away with our feelings and we can do damage to ourselves quickly if we dwell on what feeling or circumstance that triggered our need to self harm. Therefor, it is important to stay in the moment, remind yourself of your surroundings, sometimes by petting an animal, or putting ice on your inner wrist. Deep breathing is a great way to calm down. And always talking it out with someone you trust helps a lot. (even if it is a hotline stranger)...I know there is a calming instant relief and feeling of desire to punish ones self- so it is challenging to accustom yourself with the tools as a first response, but its possible, and rewarding. Always think of the consequences before impulsively acting out. And for me, if I look at online pics of wounds, or scars, that calms me down and passifies the urges so I dont SH. However some can become triggered rather than satisfied with this technique, so DO NOT try this if you think it would trigger you!! Instead you might try using a red marker and drawing on your arms, or running your hands or arms under cool water. Iv also heard of simple things like using red hots, or fireball candy or lemon drops to side track you for the time it takes to let the desire pass. I hope something Iv said helps, and you can learn to defuse the triggered emotions before you act on them. Once I was able to Stop cutting, I got tattoos on my forearms as a reminder not to SH again! Iv been self harm free for over a year!

I've cut myself before. I've had horrible depression and have ended up in hospital for suicide attempts (over dose on 34 Xanax) but I don't anymore. You NEED a quick distraction now and help later. As hard as it might be please look up something you find incredibly funny and try to enjoy it. It'll take your mind off things and hopefully make you laugh. When you feel the urge to cut do something that HELPs you trust me in 3 months you won't want them scars. Every time you feel the strong need to cut find a distraction QUICK!! Please if you haven't done something bad now listen to this. There is hope (you're sitting there reading this saying save me the bullshit) but i was i your place trust me and i'm so happy to be where i am now. If you feel like suicide is the only option see your doctor IMMEDIATELY it's not worth it when there's so much you'd love to do. Go to counselling and seek anti depressants they do truly help (on prozac for 6 months). Stay strong please :)