To many, life is a wonderful gift filled with surprises. They look forward to every day with a positive mindset and enjoy every small detail of their life. However, the case is not the same for everyone. There are people who face so many hurdles making it from one day to another.
While everyone has their ways of dealing with issues, some people fall into the pit of self-harm. Over time, it can start looking like the only way for them to deal with their emotional pain and distress instead of using words.
Many people who have gone through self-harm agree that their pain went away temporarily. However, it comes back after a little while, and the urge to hurt yourself reemerges. Hence, it becomes a painful and never-ending loop. It may seem hard, but it’s not impossible to break these chains.
Here are a few effective tips that can help you avoid self-harm.
1. Talk to a Friend
It can be hard to find positivity in life when you are going through a hard time. There may be hundreds of people around you assuring you they are here. Yet, there can be something holding you back from opening up to them. It may seem like the hardest thing to do.
Of course, it can be hard to leave your comfort zone when you feel mentally and physically exhausted. But confiding in someone is the first step towards betterment. You do not have to tell everyone about it. Instead, start with a friend or a family member that you feel close to and trust fully.
If one-on-one conversations seem too forward, you can also join support groups where you can express yourself fully without judgment. Whether you are coping with trichotillomania or cutting, you will find many people going through the same journey. Hence, you will not feel alone.
1. Identify Your Triggers
Self-harm can be one of the hardest goodbyes for someone who has fallen into it habit. After all, there are many people who do not know what makes them hurt themselves. If you feel the same way, you must understand that the urge to hurt yourself does not emerge out of thin air.
Every time you want to hurt yourself is because of a trigger. It may seem hard to focus on the reasons and triggers for this behavior, but it is an essential step to quit self-harming. Once you identify your triggers, you can plan on avoiding them more effectively.
On the contrary, not understanding your triggers can lead to more incidents of self-harm. As a result, you may feel stuck in the vicious cycle of self-harm without understanding why.
2. Try Coping Techniques
For most people, self-harm is the way to deal with unpleasant feelings. Whether you cut or scratch, it brings you some temporary relief. Of course, the best way to stop this correlation is by avoiding the unpleasant feelings completely. However, you do not have to give up hope if that is not possible.
One of the best ways to get ahead of self-harm is to choose different coping mechanisms. It can be hard to make the switch, but things only get easier once you do. It is best to switch to productive activities such as painting, composing, writing, and many more options.
Again, it will be a hard step to make this switch, but it is the best thing you can do to stop having thoughts about self-harming.
3. Find a Reliable Therapist
While self-harm may provide temporary relief from emotional pain, it can have long-lasting physical and emotional consequences. So, the best way is to find a reliable therapist who can help you go through this process easily. They will help you find and identify triggers that lead you to self-harm.
Plus, a reliable therapist will help you develop coping strategies by listening to the problems you are facing and what you can do to stop this. Moreover, they will provide emotional support and validation that will help you overcome self-harm.
By having regular appointments with them, you will be able to develop healthy habits and address any underlying issues that may be bothering you for some time.
4. Try Breathing Exercises
Breathing exercises can be an effective tool for overcoming self-harm. When we are experiencing intense emotions, our body’s natural response is to tense up, and our breathing becomes shallow and rapid.
This can exacerbate our emotional distress and make it more difficult to manage our emotions in a healthy way. By practicing breathing exercises, we can learn to regulate our breathing and calm our body and mind, which can reduce the urge to self-harm.
5. Start Getting Involved in Physical Activities
Physical activity can be an effective tool for overcoming self-harm. Exercise helps your body release endorphins, which are natural chemicals that improve mood and reduce pain. Physical activity can also provide a healthy outlet for negative emotions and help you build self-esteem and confidence.
The endorphins that are released during exercise help decrease your anxiety levels, which in turn manages your depression symptoms. By managing your mental health conditions, you can prevent self-harming and other related things that are bothering you.
6. Eat Well and Believe in Yourself
A healthy diet is the key to a healthy mind and body. When you eat well, your body releases hormones that are essential for the functioning of your brain and can ultimately improve your mood. But be sure to have a well-balanced diet in your routine.
A well-balanced diet is one that contains all the essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and proteins that are needed for the proper functioning of the body. This includes multiple meals throughout the day, including breakfast, brunch, lunch, after-lunch, and dinner.
Eating properly will divert your attention from the problems you might be facing regarding your personal or relationship life. Plus, a good diet will help you do proper physical activity, and believe in yourself, which is also good for having a sound mind.
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