The only effective alternative that I know of is to have someone you can trust to talk to and spend time with. Doing things with someone else is the best alternative especially if they know what you are going through and respect you enough to not talk about it or talk when you are ready. I self injured for most of my life and quit in 2014 and still have cravings. It's hard, but people that care and understand help.

MarkEMcGee: Thank you for your reply and great advice! Also, it's a very beautiful profile picture! I currently do not have any friends whom I can hang out and talk. I feel so isolated and alone. I have other issues besides self harm, such as depression, panic disorder, social anxiety, stress, etc. that I've been fighting so many years. Have a nice day.

Kat2017: I have the same problem my last friends stabbed me in the back early this year so I now have no one. So to aid in my recovery I made deals with myself, 1 month clean I get myself a custom bracelet, 3 months I get a tattoo and I haven,t created others for 6, 9, and 12. So that's one way, or another thing that someone told me as advice is to get into writing or art even if you aren't good at it. It has helped me a lot and so has reading. I hope one of these methods can help you and if not my message box is always open and I'm on here at least 3x daily.

I feel the same way!! Someone told me to do the same things, make punishments and goals. I've made it almost a month but with punishments I have no one to enforce them well, so it doesn't stop me, and I treating myself with rewards has never been a priority so I really feel like I'm stuck in the mud. But doing things for others and taking care of them is most important to me. Find the one thing that means more to you than anything else. It wont be a permeant fixed but it will work when you need it too.

Faven_Elizabeth: Hi Thank you for sharing your story with awesome ideas!! I want to have a tattoo on my forearm where I usually cut, but I have to stop self harm and let the wounds heal before I can have one...3 months would be tough for me, but it worth the trying!

Hello kat2017, I want to thank you for posting. I've been struggling with self injury for over 10 years as well, social anxiety, feeling isolated and alone. I'm sorry you feel this. This sounds terrible but I found it strangely comforting knowing that I'm not the only person to be dealing with this for so long. I hope you can find something that works for you.

kat2017 I understand about other issues too. A lot come with things like this. Kinda having trouble with the friend thing too. The only friend I can talk to is across the country from me. If you ever need to talk I can be here if you wish. I hope things work out for you and it does take time. I started when I was a teenager and only stopped when something got me to in 2014, even though I still have troubles, I am still trying. Really lost track of the years. It took me most of my life. You seem like a good person from your words. I am sure you are. Always take care please.