What have others used to replace self harm as a coping mechanism?

Music, ice cubes, drawing on the place you want to harm yourself, rubber bands, warm (not hot) bath or shower. I plan on getting tattoos on the places I harm the most so that I'll be afraid to ruin the beautiful art in those places. For instance, I used to cut my left wrist a lot and I'm planning on getting a music note type of sleeve so then I will refrain from hurting the art.

The most typical method (and most portrayed on TV and in movies) is having a rubber band around your wrist that you would snap when you get the urge to self harm. However, something I've known to be of more help to both myself and others is to draw on yourself-- it sounds a bit weird to some, but instead of cutting in the place where you want to, just take a pen and draw a line, or a picture, or even write a word that you are feeling in that moment. The pen on your skin can provide just enough pressure to provide a slightly similar feeling to cutting, but without the actual injury. And there are no scars-- when you want to, you can just wash it off.

I use music and watching a TV show like Empire that interests me. I also started to do photography and helping others and it really helps!

I know others have used the snapping of a rubberband or hair tie. Others have used ice or cold water of the sort to distract. I use reading or writing as method to get my emotions out. Taking a piece of paper and scribbling on it can help as well.

I used to harm myself from 5th grade to mid-high school (so it has been awhile since I've done it but...). One of my immediate replacements was exercise. Whenever I felt frustrated, I would quickly feel refreshed with a good run. The rush of adrenaline and how good I felt after a workout would give me the energy to go without the hurt. Indulging in favorite activities helped also (like drawing) especially with expressing my emotions (writing or music are other similar options).

I have found playing music to be a replacement for self harm. Something about aggressively strumming strings and singing along to sad music made me not want to harm myself anymore. I substituted cutting myself with blisters on my fingertips from playing guitar.

There are lots of ways to cope with self harming thoughts and actions. It's important to have a safety plan, people you can call, parents you can get hold of, using vibrant markers to draw or using elastic around the wrist can be helpful.

There are many different types of coping mechanisms people use. Distraction, meditation, sports, etc. You need to try everything to find the one that works the best for you

I use distracting myself as a replacement, for example I will put on a tv show, or go for a walk. I will curl up in bed and take a nap. playing games is a good distraction for me as well. just taking my mind of things is what helps me to stay away from the bad coping mechanism. and if all that fails I would call a friend or play a game with them. or I would write out how I'm feeling, journaling your emotions can help you to release the negative emotions. watching cute animal videos is also a good replacement.

For me personally, I have found that using icy water can really help shock me out of the urges. I splash it on my face. Similarly, I know other people who suggest holding ice cubes or having cold showers which work in the same sort of way. As a longer term thing (so not just as an immediate response to urges), I use a bullet journal to keep track of my daily self care, including whether or not I've self harmed/had urges etc. I try to remind myself that I don't want the scars and I don't want to erase my progress - that isn't always enough but sometimes it is. Other things that I sometimes use are drawing (including on myself), music (often loud and either sad or angry but sometimes upbeat/happy is good at lifting my mood) and writing. Hope this helps!