Give me your best self harm distraction technique.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

Just that really. If you want to self harm what do you do that means that you don't do it.

I've tried pinging a rubber band, talking to Samaritans and setting a timer. What else can I try?

[gamerchick]

Filling a bowl of ice cubes and punching it hard apparently helps.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

I've heard ice cube stuff helps. Sadly no ice cubes in the house so although I can save that one, it'll be however long it takes for the ice to freeze before I can do it.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

Thank you though :)

[ASAS]

Smashing eggs into an empty bath?

Or the Samaritans again, or mumsnet :)

[Thisishowyoudisappear]

Hello, sorry to hear you feel like self harming. I have found running my hand under the cold tap has helped in the past. It hurts but doesn't do any harm, and distracts from emotional pain. You might not be like me though. I don't want to suggest anything to you that is actually damaging. I think if the urge is really strong, why not call the Samaritans again, if it helps?

I'll be awake for a bit longer if you need to post.

By the way, it CAN get better ... it's hard but just take it minute by minute if necessary.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

Not sure how the housemates would respond to smashed eggs at 1130pm. I've been texting the Samaritans all evening and I still want to do it and I'm SO angry at myself for wanting to do it.
Apologies for being negative and Muchos thanks for suggestions.

[EmpressOfJurisfiction]

Mine were hugging myself as tightly as I could, or thinking of something utterly ridiculous - like the Muppets doing scenes from Romeo and Juliet with Beaker as Romeo and Animal as Juliet - and challenging myself not to laugh. Or shutting myself in the kitchen and flinging pan lids around helped too on occasion.

Is that any help?

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

Right. Off to try the tap, thanks. I've done the Very Hot Shower thing and that helped for a bit too but I can't stay in there all night. Thanks

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

The hugging things good. I have an enormous blanket that is good for te comfort thing. You're all wonderful thank you.

[OhGodImAFreak]

I used to write. Not think, just write. Sometimes it made no sense. Sometimes I'd get half way through a sentence and change my mind, who cares? Just write.

Sounds bizarre but I had old fabric (mum would sew a lot) and I found frantically cutting or ripping that calmed me down too.

Set yourself a make believe challenge. Like "okay I'm opening a coffee shop" look at locations, menu, colour scheme etc. Or "plan a trip around the world" set a pretend budget and see what you can find. It kept my mind busy until I felt settled.

I hope you feel better soon. I've been there and come out the other side just fine. It will be okay

[Thisishowyoudisappear]

Oh yes and as my sister would say, 'never underestimate the power of tea'!

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

I've got tea. I've also got painted nails because that might have helped and I've run hands under tap for as long as I thought I could get away with it without waking anyone up (small house, thin walls).

I've tried writing "stuff", will try just writing. Thank you all. Usually not this bad, can manage urges but struggling more than usual.

[EmpressOfJurisfiction]

Just saw your post. I had CBT when I was trying to stop self harming and one of the things I learned from it was just to accept feelings as they came, but NOT to accept that they had any power over me. My therapist suggested a couple of ways for dealing with it:
1, imagine you're standing in the sea and your feelings are the waves washing over you. The urge to self harm is just another wave. You could fight it, which would take a lot of energy and not stop it coming. Or you could stay still, let it wash over you and move on.
2, imagine you're driving a bus and your feelings are the passengers. The urge is yelling at you to crash. You could yell back and argue or you could acknowledge the noise, recognise that you don't have to obey it and keep driving safely.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

My therapist would say similar. Would also ask where are feelings and to remember to breathe. Thanks for helping me remember that.

[Thisishowyoudisappear]

^ great advice. The feelings always pass eventually.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

Yep. Just feelings. Just feelings. Feelings can't hurt you. Yep.

I'm aware I'm sounding really negative and I'm genuinely not. Just a bit messed up currently. Thank you everyone.

[EmpressOfJurisfiction]

You're welcome. I hope you're wrapped up in that lovely big blanket you mentioned .
I thought I'd be self harming for the rest of my life, but it CAN get better. Honestly.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

Honestly? 13 fucking years and I still want to do it. I feel like a stupid teenager about it sometimes.

[EmpressOfJurisfiction]

Honestly. I did it all through my 30s. Until I came on MN I thought it was a teenage thing too.

[Thisishowyoudisappear]

Yes, it can get better, that's my experience too. Honestly.

[Thisishowyoudisappear]

I haven't done it for over a year. I'm 39

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

I'm believing you because it's midnight and you're still talking to me and you are talking sense.

It just hurts so much in side that I feel like I need to do something that makes sense which obviously doesn't make sense because why would it but at the time it makes total sense.

[EmpressOfJurisfiction]

At the time it always made sense to me too.
Right now, talking to us makes a lot more sense though!

I don't know if you want to talk about the reason you're hurting...?

[Disneylandkilledmychildhood]

Get a pen or permanent mark and draw all over yourself, make the swooping motions of cutting yourself and the marks with the pen if you must. I found that very therapeutic and it stopped me from actually harming myself as just acting it out and venting the rage was enough.

[CheeseEqualsHappiness]

I am desperately trying to stop skin picking and I am having to poke my skin really hard with my knuckle to get skins relief. Sort of painful but not making me bleed. I pick my face so hand distraction working for me, tapping out rhythms, sewing.

Hope you are ok