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Self Harm....

Ive been pretty down lately since my birthday. So much stress at work also, people have been telling me to "f- off" or "shut the hell up" while Im talking to someone on the phone/workwise. Their so rude to me for no reason. I just want to break down & cry. I keep thinking of cutting myself and other ways of self harm. I dont want to do this. I dont want to harm myself but temptations always run in my mind. Any suggestions on how to calm myself & just get rid of the negative stress/temptation? I know this is a weird topic considering the people who know me on here, I havent been myself lately and self harm is something I dont want in my vocabulary.
Best Answer
2080404 tn?1643113754
I've been dealing with self harm for 7 years now. I started out young and it's gotten me hospitalized 4 times. You really don't want to get addicted to cutting, trust me. When I was in therapy, my doctor gave me a list of things to try, distractions when I wanted to cut. Holding an ice cube to your wrist (or wherever you usually do cut) helped some people. Keeping a rubber band around your wrist and snapping it helps too. (keep extras in your purse or pocket if you try this one- I've broken a few). Some people write on their arms where they would do it. Some people have found talking to friends or counting in your head can distract and calm you. I tried buying a blood red nail polish and putting it on my nails, because sometimes I only wanted to cut to see the blood. It really helped. What has worked for me the most is the 5 minute game. You tell yourself, "Okay, if I can make it for five minutes without doing it, then I will." After that 5 minutes, challenge yourself to go 5 more. Keep telling yourself that and it will pass the time and get your mind off it to where you're distracted, and not doing it makes you feel calmer and more in control. There were times I slipped, I couldn't find a good enough reason not to but once I gained control, I started carrying a small blade in my purse. Or I'd leave it in my bathroom. Out of sight, but where I knew it was. It felt better to know I had it, but I wasn't turning to it. I was STRONGER than it. A year ago I threw them all out, and I still have my moments but they pass. You'll get through this. The best advice I can give before I say good luck is to journal. Write what your thoughts are or were, why you had them, what you did. Journaling helps. Good luck, I hope my tips help  
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2080404 tn?1643113754
Hey whatever helps :)

Rubber bands are also something they teach to people with anger management, snapping it when they're angry brings them back or something. I love counting! It's amusing to pick something to count, or if I just need to stop thinking about something, I just start counting in general. I used to have a stress ball, and a sqooshy one but it broke haha
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Avatar universal
Thanks, I used to use rubber bands in 6th grade through high school, I always ended up snapping them too. Im a bit calm after reading this. Ill try some of the solutions except I kinda like the counting the most its helped. I kept a cute, very small, little stuffed blue boy that i used to squeeze when I was sad or anxious, and It ended up squeaking which I liked and I ended up giggling again.
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Avatar universal
You are a good person and you are better than this.Ignore those A$$ Holes and be strong.You have a wonderful life ahead of you,associate yourself with positive people and forget about the negative Sh_t.
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Avatar universal
I'm sorry to hear you're going thought this. What kind of job do you have?
You know that self harm is not the answer.
are the people telling you these things co workers?
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