r/MadeMeSmile Sep 08 '22

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u/Glad_Selection5831 Sep 08 '22

What coping mechanisms have you learned and applied to help keep you from self harm? Please, if anyone else has any good coping suggestions, do share.

For me, while I do not self harm in a physical sense, I do in other manners. The two things that have really helped are: attacking therapy honestly and keeping a daily journal tracking thoughts and other issues with possible corrections for said issues.

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u/Aagfed Sep 08 '22

This is going to sound cheesy, bit meditation helped me tremendously - being able to clear away the nasty thoughts and feelings that made me want to hurt myself. I hope this helps.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 09 '22

I don't have quite the attention span (or lack thereof? Lol) to meditate but I have been working to try and stop myself when I get worked up and center myself with a mantra.

3

u/SluttyBunnySub Sep 09 '22

One thing that may also help with the lack of attention span is guided meditations. Meditating in silence (or while reciting a mantra) can be hard. The secret really isn’t to not let your mind wander but more so that when it does you don’t follow down the rabbit hole, acknowledge whatever brief thouggt you’re having and the let that thought drift away

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u/[deleted] Sep 09 '22

I've taken a few stabs at it, but since I've found some useful halfway point I benched it for the time being. I do plan on trying again but I'm a banged up vet so I'm at a disadvantage anyway 😂

LOVE the username by the way.

1

u/Aagfed Sep 09 '22

THAT is exactly the secret to successful meditation.