Alternatives to Cutting: Ending Dangerous, Addictive Behavior

Cutting yourself can be an extremely repetitive and addictive form of coping when it has been your chosen method in the past. However, breaking the pattern can happen.

First, you need to recognize what happens when you are wanting to cut yourself. Is it an emotional state you are bringing yourself into, or is it an event that is occurring that you are trying to process and instead are turning to cutting. If you are first able to figure out why you are cutting, you can more easily move forward in the process of quitting.

Once you have figured out why your desires to cut exist, you have several options. For some people, who have been cutting for quite a while, the idea of doing something non-destructive or pain inducing is unrealistic unfortunately, and will only resort to cutting worse at a later moment. If you feel you are one of these people, I would first suggest getting a huge bowl of ice, and sticking your hand into it. This will hurt, however it won't cause damage or permanent scars to your body like cutting does. If this is ridiculous to you, try placing a rubber band on your wrist. Every time you have the urge to cut yourself, snap the rubber band.

Your best alternatives to cutting, are ones that do not cause pain because they are replacing a negative coping mechanism with something positive, and teaching both your body and your brain how to cope.

First, endorphins make you happy, so as a first resort try going for a bike ride, a walk with a friend, or eating a chocolate candy bar. Each of these things creates endorphins in your brain, and in addition will drive your focus onto something else.

You can also get a journey and write down your thoughts. Write down why you want to cut, what cutting has solved for you in the past, what you wish was happening right now, etc. Truly address your thoughts and emotions, and you will be helping not only yourself, but saving yourself true damage and harm.

If neither of those options are working, and you still have the desire to cut, call a friend or family member, or even a hotline, and discuss your issue at hand. By addressing the issue to someone else, and confessing your desire to cut, you are not only being held responsible by yourself, but you have someone else who cares and doesn't want you to harm yourself.

Drawing, writing poems, and acting are three additional mechanisms that are quite beneficial when you are feeling the desire to cut. Though they do not address the current issue at hand, they allow you to remove yourself from the strong motions and desires that are currently running through your brain and refocus on something else.

Whatever you may chose to do instead of cutting, be wise. Cutting is an extremely abusive form of coping and you and your body deserve better!