Ways to stop cutting part 3

Stopping the need forever

You're nearly there. One more hurdle and you're free...

Method 1-know why you self harm

There are generally 4 reasons to self-harm.

1. Self harming to express pain and emotion.
2. Self harming to calm and soothe yourself.
3. Self harming to feel alive and feel like you're in control of something.
4. Self harming to release anger.

If you self harm to be rid of intense emotions, try getting creative. Start writing, composing, drawing, painting, singing or dancing. Listen to your favourite music. Try writing all your negative thoughts and feeling in a journal and rip it up. Or burn it... Basically destroy it in whatever way floats your boat.

If you self harm to calm down, try relaxing. Do some yoga, go for a long relaxing bubblebath. Anything that makes you feel tranquil, even playing with your pet or cuddling up under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate or cocoa.

If you self harm to feel like you're in control of something, (feeling numb) you should call a friend, take up a new hobby, get put in a strange environment, eat spicy food, put ice on the crook of your elbow, anything to basically bombard your senses.

If you self harm for releasing anger, make some noise, play the drums, scream, yell, cry, punch pillows, rip up pages of negative thoughts you've written, let that anger out differently.

Method 2-change your environment

It's possible that whatever you're going through isn't a chronic problem. It can seem like its lasting for all eternity but it will leave you alone as soon as you no longer feel the need. That raises another question: How do you change your needs? The answer's really simple. Change your environment. change the people you hang round with for a bit (don't neglect your other friends though), try new things. Eventually you'll start to change. You'll become a different, stronger person. A person who doesn't need to self harm.

Find a passion. Become a writer, musician maybe, or perhaps a gamer or even a runner, the choices are endless. Get into something that gives you a new identity, that you want to spend time on and something to keep your motivation up. Try auditioning for a play or joining a club you like the sound of. Experiment.

Hang with more positive people. Curiously enough, self harm, and the feelings that follow, seem to be contagious, so try to hang with people who bring out the best in you. If a specific person triggers your urge, avoid them.

Method 3-volunteer or look after something

Try directing your energy to the community, or a pet. Volunteer at a shelter or hospital,or you cna give your time to a family member or neighbour in need.

You could try caring for something that's completely dependent on you to survive, like a pet or garden. This way you'll feel productive and dependable and maybe even make you realise that you do matter.

Method 4-love yourself and stay positive

If you hate yourself then there's a high possibility that you will want to hurt yourself when you feel crappy. When you love someone, you would never hurt them. Well newsflash: Yours is the only opinion that matters. What other people think about you is their business and you shouldn't care less. You have one person and one person only to live with. That person is YOU.

Try making a list of things you like about you. Or compliments people have paid you in the past. Write these things down and refer to them when you're feeling sad and worthless.

Remember it will get better. The key to breaking any habit, addiction or self destructive behavior is patience and persistence.

Make use of your knowledge and strength by helping others. Self harming is a very common problem and you do probably know someone who could use your help. Watch for the same signs and behavior patterns you had in other people and be ready to give aid to someone who's going through a tough time.