scars-kept-secret:

It makes me happy to hear people are trying to quit.

1. The Butterfly Project;

Draw a butterfly/something you enjoy looking at where you cut, and name it. The butterfly represents your recovery. If you cut before the butterfly naturally washes away, you kill the butterfly and who you named it after. If you don’t cut, the butterfly flies away, happy! I like to think the butterfly flies away and carries away your problems. Butterflies drawn by others are special.

2. Elastic band method.

This, technically, is a form of self harm, but I prefer to think of it like weaning yourself off a drug. Get an elastic band and ping it every time you want to cut. You get a similar sensation to cutting, a similar red mark, and it helps relieve your stress. Even if it is self harm, it is not permanently damaging, and soon you won’t need to do that anymore.

3. Distraction Methods.

My personal favourite. Basically, when you feel like cutting, do something completely different!

Activities include:

• painting
• drawing
• singing
• writing in a diary
• going for a run- also healthy!
• eating- happy foods like chocolate, that release endorphins into your system.
• listen to your favourite music!
• blog
• play/write music
• take photographs
• go for a walk c:

This is a really simple one - and if you think about it, everything on this post is a form of distraction. You just need to find the one that is emotionally right for you. When you find it, do it all the time!

4. Think rationally.

Stop and actually think about what you’re doing. Think of the people you could potentially hurt, and then think about being strong for them. Think about the day wehn your future/current children ask about your cuts, think about what you’re going to say to them, think about them doing the same. Think about your wedding day! You look like a princess/prince, in a pure white dress/black suit, on the happiest day of your life! And you have (debatablty) ugly scars. Do you want something as ugly as self harm to ruin the best day of your life? No.

Think about sun bathing too. Imagine a holiday with your family, and them seeing your scars..

5. Talking.

Talking about your problems, to anyone, is so effective. It is another way of destraction but I think it should be separated. You can talk to a friend, someone on tumblr, your Mum or Dad, you can talk to me, too! You can call a suicide hotline, or ChildLine, or you can go on an online forum and talk to people in your situation, it really helps :) x

6. Draw red lines in ink across your skin.

This works because it represents the visual side to self harm, and where many people self harm to feel something, others do it to see blood.

7. Buy a Wreck This Journal

Just, trust me…

8. Ice cube method.

Run an ice cube up and down your wrist- or wherever you cut. You’ll experience a similar sensation to cutting, only with no long term ramifications.

9. Masturbate.

Yes haha very funny. But I mean it. When you self harm in any way, chemicals are released into your blood stream from your brain called endorphins (adrenaline too). The same chemicals are released during an orgasm/sex. So the same emotional needs can be tended to with sex or masturbation as could be with self harm. But come on - which do you really enjoy more? 

10. Set targets for yourself.

This tactic works for  healthy dieting also. Set yourself a target of “clean days”. Then set a present for yourself, a treat, for each of those days. Here is how I recommend you do it. The guide is more for girls, but boys can work around it. The budgets reflect the effort put into quitting, but also financial issues may effect what you buy. 

(2 days) - budget £2 - chocolate

5 days -  budget £4

10 days - budget £10

20 days - budget £20 - a new outfit.

1 month - budget £35 - new shoes.

2 months - budget £40 - moderate jewellery, expensive make-up.

70 days - budget £40 - can be conbined with 70 days.

100 days - budget £100 - I am buying personalized converse ONLY if I make 100 days.

IF you cut you have to start from the beginning. When I get to 100 days I will update this.

11. The Paper Chain project.

Get some colourful paper, the colours represent your recovery. For every day you do not cut (or purge) add a colourful link to your paper chain. For every day you cut, add a white link. The white and colourful links represent your progress.

12. And remember to smile, gorgeous/handsome.

Reblog this with 5 positive words to describe yourself. I’ll set the ball rolling?

• Thoughtful
• Caring
• Creative
• Reliable
• Helpful

Yeah, it’s harder to do than it looks but I really want you to have a try at this- try to appreciate the good in yourselves. If you can’t, I may be able to finish your list.

Added at 6:08pm — 6 notes