I used to cut myself. I gradually started trying different things when I felt that I needed to harm myself.
Personally, I would take a magazine and try rip it up. Let all my anger, hurt and stress out on that poor book.

Then I actually started reading the magazines. And it gradually turned into when I feel that way I try read up on new things to gain more knowledge. I tried to turn it into a positive thing.

From my experience, it's a process that you need to go through. We are all so different, have different triggers, it took me 6 years to stop cutting. I still feel the need to cut many years later but I distract myself...

I hope that you can find a more positive way of reacting to anxiety and all these other feelings.

It's not easy, and I know it is so difficult to control.
When I couldn't cut I would gasp for air, shake, and go into a strange trance until I felt that blade, it felt like I was releasing those feelings through bleeding.

You need to be strong ❤️ no one can truly tell you what alternatives you can use, you need to find what works for you.

There are a lot of coping strategies. I am trying to stop cutting. I cut because I am emotionally numb and it was a way of release. My therapist wanted me to journal my emotions, but it did not work. Someone here on DS suggested that every time I feel like harming, think of the emotion and find a song that relates to my emotions or why I am upset and add it to a playlist and play it to relieve my feelings. I know it sounds weird, but it has worked. Then I am able to tell my therapist the songs that relate to my emotions so they can relate to my feelings. I know it sound weird but it’s working. You might want to define what self harming means to you to help you understand why you do it. Then find a coping strategy. If you are going to therapy, your therapist can help you develop a strategy.

I hope you find some way to cope. Best wishes.

I used to skin pick when I was anxious. Something that I used to transition out of it was to use markers and draw on my skin. I tired pens as well but they hurt and raise the skin, so it still creates an injury. But markers are soft and eventually I was able to stop. I hope that you can find a method that works for you and stay safe <3