What would be a better, non-harmful, alternative to self-harm?

An alternative to self-harm can be expressing your feelings. Drawing where you want to harm might help. Squeezing an ice cube, hit pillows or cushions, flick an elastic band on your wrist or take a cold bath can also be alternatives.

If you cut to express pain and intense emotions: Paint, draw, or scribble on a big piece of paper with red ink or paint Express your feelings in a journal Compose a poem or song to say what you feel Write down any negative feelings and then rip the paper up Listen to music that expresses what you’re feeling If you cut to calm and soothe yourself: Take a bath or hot shower Pet or cuddle with a dog or cat Wrap yourself in a warm blanket Massage your neck, hands, and feet Listen to calming music If you cut because you feel disconnected and numb: Call a friend (you don’t have to talk about self-harm) Take a cold shower Hold an ice cube in the crook of your arm or leg Chew something with a very strong taste, like chili peppers, peppermint, or a grapefruit peel. Go online to a self-help website, chat room, or message board If you cut to release tension or vent anger Exercise vigorously—run, dance, jump rope, or hit a punching bag Punch a cushion or mattress or scream into your pillow Squeeze a stress ball or squish Play-Doh or clay Rip something up (sheets of paper, a magazine) Make some noise (play an instrument, bang on pots and pans) Substitutes for the cutting sensation Use a red felt tip pen to mark where you might usually cut Rub ice across your skin where you might usually cut Put rubber bands on wrists, arms, or legs and snap them instead of cutting or hitting

From my personal experience, a good alternative for self-harm is running or working out. Another non-harmful alternative would be listening to music. It really just depends on the person.

In my experience normal techniques that you would use to decompress can work if the urge isn't that strong (e.g. listening to music, drawing, reading, taking a hot bath, etc.), but sometimes when you're just starting to get better it can be helpful to use ice or a rubber band (If you're somebody who self-harms for the physical sensation), or you can draw on yourself in pen (sharpies always worked best for me). Another thing that I used to do which might seem a bit weird, is draw on bandages in pretty colours and designs, and then wrap the bandages around where I used to self harm whenever I got the urge; almost like a shield =)

Draw in the areas that you would normally harm. Use something soft, like felt tips that wash off. Draw patterns, and it will help much more. Make sure you don't use anything sharp or dangerous.

holding ice cubes in your hands, draw on yourself, rip paper, play with a pet, talk to someone, do some creative writing

In my case self-harming was an attempt to release all these painful emotions by causing physical pain. It was sort of an physical distraction. So the best alternative I could find was sports. This had several positive effects on my condition. First of all the direct comparison to self-harming: sports is tiring, it makes your body and muscles weak, You lose this strong exertion due to that exhaustion. In that case you don't release the emotional pain with physical pain, but by letting this energy out for something positive. The tension in your head is replaced by the exhaustion in your whole body. This immediate alternative has further positive effects, too. Exercise causes the brain to produce more serotonin, which makes you feel happy (or at least better). Plus sports is a great distraction. So to me sports has been the best solution yet.

You can always always find someone to talk to on 7cups, some people find it easier to talk to a stranger rather that someone they know, or talk to family members

Using a sharpie on where you want to cut, drawing on yourself, cold baths, holding ice, working out, screaming..

make yourself busy. try different kinds of sports. write a bucket list and start doing them one by one.