WAYS TO NOT CUT
(Courtesy of the OPHS Counseling Department)
- Exercise, running, walking, sports activity you like, etc.
- Putting on fake tattoos
- Drawing on yourself (make sure it's washable)
- Scribbling on sheets of paper
- Writing (poetry, stories, journal, etc.)
- Cuddling with a stuffed toy
- Being with other people
- Watching a favorite TV show (preferably a comedy)
- Posting on web boards, and answering others' posts
- Thinking about how I DON'T want scars for the summer
- Painting your nails
- Going to see a movie
- Eating any favorite food
- Doing schoolwork, or something else that occupies your mind
- Surf the net or look for ridiculous things on the net
- Call a friend and ask for company
- Playing a musical instrument
- Singing
- Looking up at the sky (night is especially beautiful)
- Miking your own list of things to do instead of SI
- Snapping a rubber band on your wrist (or hair band)
- Cover yourself with band-aids where you want to cut
- Letting yourself cry
- Sleep (only if you're tired)
- A hot shower, or relaxing bath (no razors in the tub)
- Play with a pet
- Re-organizing your room
- Cleaning
- Have a pillow fight with the walls
- Reading a very good book
- Coloring your hair
- Listening to calming music
- Finding someone else you can help out
- Meditate
- Go to a friend's house
- Watch an old, happy movie
- Call a help Hotline or your therapist
- Talk to someone close to you that knows
- Throw a temper-tantrum
- Ride a bicycle
- gardening or watering house plants
- memorizing poetry
- Feed the ducks or birds or squirrels, etc.
- Play with face paint
- Color with crayons
- Memorize a novel or play or song
- Put on boots and STOMP!!
- Stretch
- Find butterflies
- Watch fish
- Come up with baby names (even if you're not pregnant)
- Make mashed potatoes
- Make a playlist of your favorite songs
- Name all of your stuffed animals
- Get into your PJ's and just veg
- Go to a loud concert
- Play the 15 minute game (say you can't cut for 15 minutes, and when the time is up, start again)
- Plan your wedding/prom
- Alphabetize your books
- Hunt for your perfect home in the paper
- Take up Tai Chi
- Count ceiling tiles/lights
- Do a home tan on yourself
- Sort all your photographs
- Color or scribble over the pretty women in magazines
- Plan a dinner party
- Play with a slinky, Play Dough
- Buy yourself some toys and play
- Start collecting something
- Play video/games (not bloody/gory ones)
- Do a trash pick up at your local park
- Play on a swing set
- Go out and perform a random act of kindness for someone
- Call up an old friend
- Write yourself an "I love you because...." letter
- Try to build something
- Re-arrange your house
- Go to a public place and "people watch"
- Go through all your old stuff
- Go bargain-hunting
- Smile at at-least 5 people
- Go to the zoo and rename all the animals
- Get a bag of ice and throw against an empty wall outside
- Make up your own!!!