Before You Self-Harm
write down the shadow that's hiding behind the urge. look at it. ask yourself:
- how will this situation or feeling change if i hurt myself?
I don't know. I feel like I can't breathe. I'll relax a little. - what will hurting myself bring to the situation? what will it take away from the situation?
Bring:
Relief, some distance between me and my head, less anxiety
Take away:
My almost 10 months free, my ability to get the trikot I want, my sense of accomplishment. - how do i want to feel about this in the long run? is hurting myself likely to get me closer to or farther from feeling that way?
I want it to go away. I don't know. - if hurting myself seems like my best option right now, how long will the relief it brings last? what will i do then?
It depends on how much. I'll probably sleep or drink. - what is something i could do now instead of hurting myself? how will it change the situation i'm in? how long will that change last, and what will i do then?
I could fill out these questions, clean, watch soccer, stay here on the board or reach out....I know this situation is just a feeling..... - how will i feel tomorrow if i hurt myself? how will i feel tomorrow if i do the other thing i came up with?
Guilty
I'll probably have forgotten the urge if I don't hurt myself - what do i really want to do right now? how can i best honor the self-protective instinct that has me wanting to self-injure right now?