can everyone chime in on this please???// reasons to stay alive
can everyone start replying with reasons to stay alive???then when im really suicidal and i come back to this thread and relook at all the reasons to stay alive. I think it might actually help me. I appreciate it <3 <3
@koyissues1999
Family and friends
Ok this is hard for me too!! I need to see other people's responses too
family, friends, pets, and the future pick your dream life and write it out and plan for it.
your soulmate.
i also need reasons not to cut, thanky you guys 
@funfettifrosting Yay for trying to get better!
1. The moment will probably past and then you will regret it. For most people, the feeling of wanting to cut only lasts for a couple hours or a couple minutes.
A tip one of the therapists I know says: Instead of thinking, Im not going to self-harm ever again! Try thinking, I wont self-harm for 1 hour. Then Ill see how I feel. You may find the urge has passed, or that you can try to wait for another 1 hour.
Be kind to yourself. Instead of thinking I never remember anything! tell yourself, I did a good job remembering most things and only forgot one thing yesterday!
2. You've been clean for ________ days/hours/weeks/months/years. Although relapse and doing it again is something that probably happens, you know you've got what it takes and you're so, so strong.
A tip one of my therapists I know says: See the time when you've controlled your feelings instead of cutting as strength. You're slowly piling up a mountain of strength. And then use this strength to combat those hard feelings.
3. Coping mechanisms! Coping mechanisms could also be seen as distraction from cutting. By having a short list, you'll know that you're coping.
A tip one of my therapists I know says: Cutting is like a release. There are many reasons to why people would cut, many different ones. But all of them have one thing in common - it's a release, a cry of help when you can't deal with your situation and emotion. That's why you should build a coping mechanism. Instead of trying to completely stop, try to think of a short list of things you can do when you're feeling a certain way, such as reading, drawing, exercising, jogging, breathing, meditating, and more.
@Aubrynn I have a question about 3rd point you made. I definitely have many coping mechanisms I could refer to. I work out, paint, meditate, take my dog on a walk, etc. BUT when I am so upset that I feel like hurting myself, all of that just seems like BS to me. Like in that moment, I do not believe that running or painting would even begin to make me calm down or feel better. So I guess my question is, how do you get yourself to use these coping techniques when you are already so upset?
@imaginativeOrange1115
hiya! I completely get what you mean. I guess in a way it ties in with (1), because for me, I change order of tasks.
For example, if I want to cut NOW, I push that away for a bit and go, before doing that, let me first ____________. Like, I remind myself I MUST do something else BEFORE cutting, for example. Like, I've got to do homework first, or I've got to go paint before. When I think of this, I kind of imagine sims changing the orders of their tasks (based on the EA game) if you get what I mean!
Or, I question these thoughts that push me into wanting to cut, such as 'will it really solve my problem?' 'will i regret it after?' 'what alternatives are there?' and then I carry out the coping mechanism.
@imaginativeOrange1115 I think it's like @Aubrynn is saying, in the end it really is a will-power thing. If you have the desire to stop self-harm, then it's really just reminding yourself of that desire. To recognise that you feel like self-harming, and letting yourself stop for a second to think: "I could do this, or I could do something else more positive, and I know it can help me too". It's a tough thing to do when your emotions are intense, but it can be done! And, I think it's completely normal to think things are "bs" in the moment! I think that you don't have to actually believe it will work (or, be as effective) in order to still do the coping method, to give it a try. To do it anyways even when you feel like cutting is a 'better' option, it takes a lot of strength but it's really worth that fight 
And of course, remembering that it's okay to not always be able to fight it, what matters isn't 'always succeeding', but instead just trying your best. If you can even distract yourself something like 25% of the time at first, that's a great start. Overcoming self harm isn't an all-or-nothing thing, it takes time and builds up slowly. Any times you do end up self-harming doesn't negate the times that you fought against those urges and didn't. They still count, they still matter.
@imaginativeOrange1115
I used to cut as well. I get what you mean by the coping mechanisms seeming like BS in the moment. You mentioned walking your dog. That's one I used to do as well. That's one that is different from just going and playing basketball by yourself or going to the gym. You're taking your DOG for a walk. You're concentrating on your DOG'S needs over your own. It's definitely not BS for your dog to need exercise and to eat food and to drink water. They are the essentials to their life. Knowing that my coping mechanism was benefiting another being in this world helped pulled me out and make that act be more meaningful to me and more worth it.
Painting or reading or those types things taketime and concentration to get going and take time to help calm down. Those are for when you need a long term distraction for a long period of time. Cutting is about immediate release, immediate satisfaction from The Thing (that is bothering us). So maybe finding some other short projects that can give a really quick sense of accomplishment.
Lego building can let you construct a full structure in mere minutes. Something that has some quick movements for your hands to keep them busy. I even used to braid embroidery thread into jewelry. I could braid a really fine thin necklace with some beads into about ten minutes, which is about the same amount of time I would do my major cutting for in a session (used to do several sessions a day).
Or for awhile I did Henna tattoos on myself. It's more time consuming than the others, but I got to walk around with a cool piece of work for a few weeks after and when I'd look down and see it on some of my bad days it would help cheer me up and make it just a little bit easier.
@koyissues1999
For me it's workout and generally improving myself both physically and mentally.
@koyissues1999 because you never know what kind of impact you have on those around you. One day I was feeling particularly worthless and trying to hide it when one of my friends that I had known for years randomly turned to me and said "you know I think you've kept me out of jail more than a few times" now she is a tiny firey latina with a sometimes violent temper so I'm like what?? and she says "yea whenever I get in a situation where I could cut a bitch I take a step back and say to myself 'how would K handle this?' and then I take a deep breath and pull myself together and try to handle things diplomatically like you would." That really stuck with me. You just never know how much you've made a difference in somebody else's life and how much they would actually miss you if you were gone.
@koyissues1999
You would be sorely missed by those around you.
Sometimes things can be so overwhelming but they can pass and become bearable or even amazing at times and you wouldn't want to miss out on those good times.
Here are some reasons to stay alive :
-music
-good movies/shows
-cute animals
-warm showers on cold days
-feeling the sun on your face
-hugs from people you love
-all the different colours of the sky
-when the snow is sparkling and the world feels silent
-kindness from strangers
-the soft patter of rain on a window
-seeing all the art people create
-laughing until your stomach hurts
-sweet and cute dreams
-fresh fruit
-warm blankets right out of the dryer
-how your part in the world is bigger than you could ever imagine
-that you're made of the same material as the stars in the sky
-getting to experience new discoveries
-big full moons
-the pride of making a good meal all by yourself
-all the wonderful nature in the world
-you're the only you that can ever exist
-splashing in puddles
-hearing "thank you" and other appreciation
-making someone smile
-learning a new skill
-creating (in any form, art, writing, music, etc)
-cold drinks on hot days
-warm drinks on cold days
-pretty smelling lotion
-thinking back on good memories
-the satisfaction of completing a goal, no matter how small
-finally cleaning an area and feeling refreshed
-flowers and plants, knowing that they need you and you need them
there are probably a million more, but that's a good list to start
That even a stranger, like me really cares. I feel the same way sometimes and I know just knowing that even one person cares about your precious life is so valuable. For the sake of another person who's in the same boat as you, keep being strong! It seems like a lot, but just know that I care and I hope that even though I don't know you, it gives you a reason to stay alive.Sorry for my cheesy message but I hope this helps even just a little bit :)
(P.S. Also I'd feel pretty guilty if I knew you gave up and I didn't help you.)
Think of the millions of events that had to occur in order to create you exactly the way you are. Millions and millions!
- Live for the chance to make tomorrow a better day.
- Live for something fun in the future - a concert, a day with friends, holidays, anything! Plan something to look forward to.
- Live for the positive people around you.
- Live for the possibility that with a little work, you could love yourself as much as others love you.
You deserve every ounce of happiness the world has to offer. You do, I swear. Wishing you the best :)
@koyissues1999
When I have had these feelings, I wrote a lsit out off all the people my death would effect. I got to ateast 50
trying doing the same