What are the best alternatives to self-harm?

I think the best alternative to self harm is when you get your urges get out a diary or pages and write out your thoughts, how you're feeling and what you hope to happen in the future, you should feel a bit better. If that doesn't work for you put a elastic band around your wrist and when you feel the need to self harm snap the band, listen to your favourite music something that usually puts you in a good mood or is uplifting. Go on a walk, ask friends to join if you don't want to be alone. If you don't feel like going out cuddle a pet or a teddy or pillow, read a book, go online and play games. Your urges will eventually be gone :)

I think the best and most successful way to avoid the old habit of self harm is to find a alternative, like replacing a bad habit with one of lesser magnitude, this may be the Butterfly Project, Painting, Writing, anything that helps you get through that pain without inflicting injury to yourself or others.

That can't be generally said because it depends a lot on what the person does it for so the best skills can vary from person to person and there is no skill that always works. You also need to be aware that skills wont make quitting easy, they can only help make it possible because they will never be an exact replacement and it would still be tough to quit and require a lot of willpower as well which may be given because I guess you dont ask for no reason. You just have to be aware that even with skills it will still be a struggle and ask yourself if youre ready and if you feel it is the right moment to take that up. A good start in finding suitable skills would be to ask yourself if you self harm for the pain, the look of it or the action of it (can also be a combination). For example it would not be helpful to tell a person that does it for the pain that they could as well draw on their skin with a red marker. In the next step you could ask yourself what each of these 3 gives to you so you can then look for healthier ways to get a similar even if weaker effect, i.e. if the routine gives you a feeling of control look for routines that are related to self care instead of destruction, if the pain helps you feel alive look into grounding skills which can help you feel more present and aware. This can be a problem if the reason is for example self punishment and the person is not really open for alternate options. In that case it might be better to work on it starting with self love and acceptance. A professional therapist or some Listeners on here that cover the topic might be able to help you find a suitable set of skills for yourself. It is often a combination of skills, also some that you do when you have an urgent urge and others you establish in daily life to even prevent that. Feel free to connect with me or another Listener that covers the topic to go into detail about your individual situation and what alternatives could be worth a try for you.

I sometimes use a hairband to snap on my wrist a few times to get out the initial urge before distracting myself with something else. I've also heard a good method is melting an ice cube on your wrist (or wherever you usually self-harm).

a hobby like reading, writing, talking, taking a drive, cooking, help a friend, sing/dance, punch a punching bag or a pillow, scream into your pillow, ect.

Doodleing on the body part you want to harm yourself on. I sometimes doodle something pretty, and then don't harm myself because I don't want to destroy the pretty doodle. Other times instead of harming myself I doodle wounds on my body, sounds weird but it helps me.

There's actually a lot of other things you could do, like draw on yourself with a pen or marker or write down everything you're feeling you can play video games play with a pet o or write down everything you're feeling you can play video games play with a pet. There's so you can do.

Before you give in to that urge, force yourself to breathe and scream into a pillow. It'll shock you out of that sense of hollowness and bring some release to those overwhelming emotions.

It depends on the person. Distraction and resolution are the best helps for self harm. Distractions that are healthy and enjoyable such as learning to play an instrument or singing.

Many psychologists encourage their patients who self-harm to draw where they want to harm themselves at. It has been proven mainly effective and is highly recommended .