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Well, when I went through the stage of self injury, I found that sometimes going on a run or a walk helped... Especially going on a run. I used to run myself into the ground sometimes. Also, I used to play soccer.... again, it was another form of SI since I was playing soccer without any protection, playing so hard that I usually destroyed myself in the process... But it was not cutting, so it helped me feel better.

Sometimes writing about why I wanted to cut helped, just because if I wrote down exactly what I was feeling, eventually I didn't feel like cutting cause I felt like I had finally vented it out.

I also used to go on drives.... just drive for a couple hours around in circles through the local towns, thinking. Eventually I thought myself to a point where I didn't need to cut, cause I sorted stuff out in my head.

It really depends... What do you enjoy doing? What kind of sports? Do you like to write, or draw? any kind of art? What about driving, or running, or even walking or riding bikes.... Skateboarding. I dont really know what you are into, but sometimes doing things that you are good at, or like, will help you feel better. Soccer and writing were my two big ones cause I'm good at soccer, and I like to write.

Hope I helped you a bit. I'm sorry you are caught in SI... I may not know why or how you feel but I do know when I was at that point, it totally sucked and for that, I am sorry.

I've been asking this myself; However, I do it for the scars, not the actual pain... So it's hard to find an alternative... If you find anything that works.. Please let me know.

After the hours I've spent holding ice to my head to mitigate worse pain, I can recommend that one to anyone who self injures. It can be very, very intense yet, unless you give yourself frostbite, you won't get any marks. That's a good one.

When I cut, it's usually for the blood and the mark, the pain doesn't really help me. I've tried many techniques, and I haven't been able to stop, but I hope you can.


It kind of depends on what you hurt yourself for. Pain/marks/blood/ect. If you do it for the pain, the rubber band technique like Dr. Awkward said might help. I personally think it shouldn't be a technique because it's still inflicting pain on yourself.

If you do it for the mark or the sight of blood, drawing on yourself with red bed or marker can help. And only wash it off after you feel like you've calmed down. Maybe drawing designs or words or just drawing lines all over will make you calm down as long as you're doing it only with a marker or pen.

Take a random shower. That always helps me. Even if you've already taken one, say, a few hours ago. A random shower or even bath can help you relax and forget about self harming yourself.

And finally, try to write, read, or exercise. Those are probably the main things people do. Write all of your feelings down on a page. If you're angry, write big letters, scribble, tear the page, whatever you want. And then afterwards tear it all to pieces. It helps get anger out.

I hope you can figure out ways to stop. *hugs*

What I used to recommend to sniffle-doodle was to split rocks with another. Though that is kind of dangerous so I don't recommend it anymore. It's good to release your anger though. Other than that I think the suggestions that have been told are all good alternatives. I for myself have a very mild form of self injury. I bite the skin of my fingers and then I continue it often until a wound comes. I don't like it but it's a bad habit. Luckily it's not too serious.