hallooo welcome to...
SELF HARM ALTERNATES!!!!i'm fully aware this won't work for everyone. these are tips n tricks i've collected over the years to help myself n others! (ˊᗜˋ)please click for whichever you think will help best! or click any of them!

created: 9/28/21
last updated: 11/21/25

୧ draw red marker/pen on the area you would normally s/h or on the tip of your finger
୧ paint on yourself
୧ red makeup on areas you'd normally do it
୧ brown/purple/green eyeshadow on yourself to imitate bruises
୧ (red) food colouring on yourself
୧ get bandaids/bandages and draw red on the padded areas, you can see the red through the bandaid and it looks like you got hurt
୧ if you pick at yourself, get a squishy and pick off chunks of it
୧ (again, if you pick at yourself) get a piece of cardboard/foam/paper or anything, get hot-glue and randomly drip it all over. (preferably lines of it) don't burn yourself! peel/pick off the glue. (instagram reel for inspo)
୧ fake tattoos
୧ draw all over a picture of you, or someone else (magazines,people you hate)
୧ doodle and draw all over yourself with a pen, write (good, nothing negative!) stuff or just scribble!
୧ put bandaids/bandages all over you
୧ get paper, paint/watercolours, and a thin paint brush, (or the blade you normally use), or a thin cardboard (cereal box kind) and paint with the blade/brush/cardboard on the paper like how you'd normally harm yourself. preferably red paint! (tiktok)
୧ TW FOR BLOOD you can visit fatal of flesh (please be careful, this can trigger you.)
୧ apply glitter (glitter glue, paint, make-up, or just smack on some glitter) and put it on for the "scar" affect. it's also fashionable!
୧ cut/slice up a bar of soap.
୧ make your own "scratch and draw" - colour with red (or any colour) with markers, then paint a thin layer of black paint. when it all dries, use a toothpick and scrape it off!
୧ if you pick at your skin, try to make a "picky paint" or buy one here! if you want to make one, get lava rocks & puffy paint. paint the whole rock in paint, and pick at it with some tweezers! if this helps, make multiple at a time so you can take them places!
୧ put lipstick on, and kiss where you'd usually s/h. (reminder that you should love yourself)
୧ put nail-polish on your skin, and pick it when it's dry! do any colour. (it can be hard to pick off)

୧ put it off if you're getting urges. say "i'll self-harm in 20 minutes if i still feel like it." and in those 20 minutes, do something's in this list!
୧ listen to music! playlists i made ;; calming music / upbeat music / songs i reccomend.
୧ doodle characters you like! heres a random idea generator CW flash warning
୧ try out a new hobby
୧ sing, loudly or quietly.
୧ call/text with friends
୧ get a comfort item
୧ try to write&research something about something really random, like a rock you saw or a random animal
୧ learn some random facts! about animals, history, anything! here are 300 random facts.
୧ drink something warm. tea/coffee/milk (if you want to be sleepy!) try some "age regression milk recipes!"
୧ pretend to have a party
୧ count to 100, then 500, then 1,000
୧ play/pet/cuddle with your pets, they can help with mental health!
୧ imagine scenarios (meeting an online friend,dancing with someone in the rain,a picnic with someone you love)
୧ try to learn a new language! or even just basic greetings
୧ bake a cake, or anything! recipes ; 3 ingredient sugar cookies / microwavable mug-cake / edible cookie dough / + more in this carrd!
୧ go on a walk, or outside in general.
୧ start a mood journal (or get an app!)
୧ chew thick bubble gum
୧ only for ios the app/game "fidget widget". its just a little distraction game and keeps your hands busy. app store download
୧ get a rag/towel, wet it and put it in the freezer. once its frozen, peel off the rag and unravel it!
୧ play quick draw! you draw whatever prompt you get, and google guesses it! its fun!! ♡
୧ make a character, or yourself in picrew!
୧ the app calm harm might be able to help. it has advice and distractions. ios download / andriod download.
୧ only for ios tappy, a little fidget app! it has built in games, fidgets, and a little pet you can take care of. download
୧ the useless web is a website that was pretty popular on YT in 2016!! it takes you to any silly fun website where it can be minigames, random images, or anything! it's completely safe though. :)
୧ cat bounce is a cute, silly website of little kitties bouncing and you can make so many fall from the sky!!
୧ play pakka pet! similarly to tamagotchis, you can raise a little sprout guy and however you raise it, it evolves! you can decorate your village and your home, and mix different food for your pakka pet! andriod download / ios download
୧ neal.fun has minigames, and facts! it's a really cool simple site and has helped me a lot.
୧ bongo.cat is a cute site to control the bongo cat!! make some music and have fun!
୧ nijika's ahoge looks like doritos! make bags of them here, simple tap game that's fun & distracting!!
୧ talk to any character with ai! talk about life, pets, literally anything. i gave jesse pinkman a kitten and he cant stop fawning over it!
୧ make a list of things you like! (this can also lift your mood)
୧ make a collage of future plans you want!
୧ start a mini-scrapbook! pick up some stuff you find whenever you go on an adventure, keep the tags from something important/special you got! tiny journals on amazon
୧ play on drawing.garden
୧ pick the odd colour out on kuku kube!
୧ play with this hand & watch it unfold
୧ check out "queering the map", especially if you're lgbtqia+ it can be comforting! see peoples stories here :)distraction mini-game carrd find the park mini-game carrd distraction master-list butterfly project 100,000 stars

୧ punch a plush/pillow/punching bag
୧ scribble on paper
୧ cut up something thick (a book,meat,stiff pillow,cardboard)
୧ draw on, cut up, and/or punch a plush/pillow!
୧ make something out of clay and then destory it! here's a playdough recipe
୧ scream into a pillow, or go to a secluded area (like a forest) and yell!
୧ pick up something soft and swing it against your wall as hard as you can
୧ hammer nails into wood/put up posters/art with thumb tacks
୧ tear up newspaper, cardboard, or paper in general
୧ download "kick the buddy"! beat this little guy up all you want :) ios download / andriod download
୧ cry if you need to. it helps
୧ shake around your hands and legs really hard and kick all around!!
୧ snap/break a pencil(s)/sticks in half.
୧ break plates or clay!
୧ blow up balloons and pop them. be careful with the noises though!
୧ stab/cut an orange, apple, or banana! (oranges have a similar skin to us!)
୧ work out! take a jog, run in circles in your room, try to do push ups or pull ups, anything!
୧ write out how you're feeling and rip up the paper, then throw it away.
୧ pop bubble rap
୧ throw a fruit! a banana, tomato, something squishy as hard as you can so it splats!
୧ rip weeds out of a garden/yard!
୧ smash some walls on this website!!
୧ get a baseball bat and smash empty boxes.
୧ fill a ziplock bag with water and lots of red paint, go outside (or maybe a bath-tub) and stab the bag.
୧ scribble on paper until the back is black.
୧ throw darts at a dart-board!
୧ throw ice or even pasta at the walls/floor!
୧ flatten allunimum cans (and recycle them)
୧ cut up fruits!meditation for anger
reduce physical tension

୧ put ice in your first and squeeze
୧ put tape on the area you'd s/h and rip it off
୧ rub ice on the area you do it, you can also add food colouring or paint
୧ put your face in cold water
୧ tweeze your eyebrows! (be careful with this, as it can become a bad habit aswell!)
୧ peel glue off your skin! this is good if you pick at your skin, too.
୧ use mouthwash, it "stings" your mouth
୧ get a pen (preferably red) and draw on your finger tip. there are lots of nerves on your fingers so this feels different!
୧ try to eat something sour, like candy or a lemon!
୧ eat something spicy! a chemical in spicy food makes us think we're overheating, that's why it burns!
୧ take an ice cold shower (be careful, not too long!)
୧ clap/slap your hands together for 30 seconds!
୧ chew on ginger (root), or take a shot of ginger! (recipe here)
୧ rub tiger balm on where you'd s/h (info on tiger balm) | (risks/side effects)
୧ use vapor rub/vicks, but please be careful! it'll be a burning and cooling sensation
୧ mix mod-podge or thick glue with red paint, put a thick layer on your skin and let it dry. rip it off once it's done.
୧ take a shot of lemon juice.
୧ make a cup of kool-aid with MUCH more powered kool-aid then recommended. "if it doesn't taste like battery acid/a war head, it's not enough"
୧ also try a shot of hot sauce! it won't hurt you, but it'll shock you
୧ snap a rubber band on your wrist. be careful as this can still be a form of self-harm, but it's a safer alternative then anything more.

୧ "see, hear, feel, smell and taste." 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can see, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste.
୧ write a reality check list (list things about where you are and how you're feeling.)
୧ do you know what caused you to be anxious or panicked? try to recognise what triggered you. write it down, or tell someone.
୧ 4/7/8 breathing, breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7, breathe out for 8 seconds.
୧ here are breathing gifs follow along with them.
୧ count backwards from 100 by 5, or 2, or 7.
୧ pick up an object and describe what it is, how it feels, etc. it's colour, texture, noise it makes...
୧ list all your favourite characters, and everything you know about them.
୧ try to talk to someone, even if it's not about how your feeling!
୧ try to do some self-care. take a warm bath, wash your face, light some candles, make a snack...carrd for panic attacks
"the quiet place"
guided meditation

take care of yourself properly, whether you're trying to recover or you're trying to practice harm-reduction. don't forget to clean wounds of ANY KIND! you are an amazing person and you deserve to be happy n feel better (づ¯3¯)づ
1 (800) 366-8288

TW/CW drawing representation of cuts. please proceed with caution. the thread also has lots of drawings of cuts (for education) please be careful!original thread : @ranashtw