How do you resist self-harm urges?

[Nessa7]

What about one of those nail polishes that are meant to keep people from biting their nails?

 

[barefoot]

Thanks for the recent replies.

@joeylittle - I can see a cold shower / a face dunk could be effective. I absolutely hate getting my face wet and am a real wimp with cold showers, so it may be the unpleasant jolt I need!

@Nessa7 - I've never though of this. Usually I use my fingernails so, if it tasted vile, maybe that would put me off. It's not a complete solution because I also sometimes use other things (dental things and blades) so, if I were desperate and couldn't use my fingernails I guess I would potentially reach for something else to use. But maybe the initial jo,t of the horrible taste to be enough to put me off.

 

[barefoot]

I'm happy to report that I haven't had any urges - and I therefore haven't cut - since I started this thread, so this has been a big relief.

I'm wondering whether talking about it with my therapist and posting about it here - so "naming" it and putting it out there as opposed to it always being a shameful secret - has been helpful and taken away some of its power? I don't know. I'm just pleased that the dental visit didn't send me straight back to old habits.

I would still welcome any further posts in this thread as I'm not confident that it will never rear its head again, so any other ideas would be gratefully received - and will hopefully help others too.

I can imagine holding ice cubes in my mouth and trying cold water/cold showers. And I can see myself trying the horrible tasting nail polish.

What about tools for when you're not at home - and therefore don't have easy access to ice or can't just leap in the shower? I guess holding your hands under very cold running water for as long as you can bear would potentially be grounding and would be something that no one else would notice?