Healthy distraction techniques.

Former Member

I thought it might be helpful to make a list of healthy distraction techniques I went through with my team instead of self harming.
1)listening to music.
2)pinging an elastic band on your arm.
3)dunking your head in ice.
4)drawing or writting
5)hitting a pillow
6)putting something sour in your mouth.
7)talk to someone.
8)take some prn.
9)go for a walk
And if you try one of these for 10 minutes and it dosent work try a different one and if you've tried all of them and you still want to self harm then call a proffesional my worker told me.

Aoife

Thanks so much for sharing these distraction techniques @Past User

Former Member

Thank you for sharing this @Past User, it is helpful to people to see other options that help with distraction.

Former Member

Thanks for sharing these, written them down in my distraction box 😊 here's some I've found helpful aswell
1) dance, just dance (my fav is the angry dance from Billy Elliot)
2) popping candy, it's great for grounding,  focusing on all the senses at once
3) run til you can't breathe/think
4) paint your nails
5) make a happiness jar and add positive messages to it to read when you're struggling.

Former Member

That's really thoughtful of you to share those! both yours and @Past User tips sound really helpful

Former Member

Hey @Past User. Thanks for sharing these techniques and @Past User for yours too! That happiness jar sounds like a fantastic idea.

The Mix has made an A-Z of distraction techniques which has tips from Activities to catching some Zzz's. It also gives some advice on how to get support too

Scott

Former Member

@Past User thanks, I had heard about happiness jars before but one time I was in hospital the nurses made one for me 😊 (I cried when they gave it to me haha) they had started me off with positive messages about me, since then I've been adding to it, my friends and family have added things too 😊 this one's a message from a nurse 😁 (yes, it's in a classic hospital water jug 😂 ) 


I'll check out those distraction ideas, I'm not struggling just now but still like to do distractions to keep the unwanted thoughts at bay 😊 

Former Member

Fiddle toys! I got sent a box of loads of different sensory fiddle toys, such as orbzy in a bag, I keep that in the fridge so it's cold when I roll my hand on it! For sight, I have bottles with different colour glitter and things in with water and glue that you shake and watch and it's really relaxing. For smell I have a soft blanket that I spray with lavender, which is really calming and then you have your standard fiddle toys you can get in shops that keep your hands busy

Former Member

Great thread and some good suggestions

Similar to Lubna's but squeezing an ice cube in your hand for as long as possible