What to do when you're triggered/feel like relapsing:

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The first thing you want to do after being triggered is breathe. It may feel like your world is going to collapse, it may feel like you're numb, it may feel like your going to hurt yourself, and you need to breathe.

 

Remember that if you do self harm, the important thing is that you're still alive and fighting and you made it this far. If you're in recovery or are considering it, relapses happen.

 

They're a natural part of recovery. Not because you're weak, but because recovery is hard and not a straight line.

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The second thing is to sit and think about what you feel like doing and whether it's really worth it. It may help temporarily, but in the long run it will probably make things worse.

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Suggestions from anonymous self harmers:

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"When I feel like relapsing I think about how far I've come and I try to distract myself. Calm harm works really well"- Anonymous.

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"I have trouble finding coping skills that work because the problem is that I crave the sensation of pain. My therapist told me that taking a baby brush and  brushing your arms or wherever you want the sensation can help with self harm urges. I tried it and it helps"- Anonymous.

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"Looking at a calendar and counting all the days I've been clean one by one can sometimes help if I'm considering a relapse. Even if I already know how many days it's been, the act of counting them out can help ground me and remind me that I'm doing great no matter how long I've been clean"- Anonymous.

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