Help Self harm as stimming??

[brokenbirdy]

I just got out of therapy and my therapist brought up an idea she had while watching a Tik Tok.

She said that my self-harming behavior could be a stimming behavior. I've thought about it, and discussed it today, and I think its true. A lot of the times more recently that I've hurt myself, I have been feeling really upset, and was using it to feel better. I never connected that to it being me regulating myself with self-stimulatory behavior. (also, we both think I'm neurodivergent, but we knew that for a while)

On that note, does anyone have ideas or resources for less damaging versions of this? (Less damaging than, say, cutting myself.)

 

[grapevoid]

I just got out of therapy and my therapist brought up an idea she had while watching a Tik Tok.

She said that my self-harming behavior could be a stimming behavior. I've thought about it, and discussed it today, and I think its true. A lot of the times more recently that I've hurt myself, I have been feeling really upset, and was using it to feel better. I never connected that to it being me regulating myself with self-stimulatory behavior. (also, we both think I'm neurodivergent, but we knew that for a while)

On that note, does anyone have ideas or resources for less damaging versions of this? (Less damaging than, say, cutting myself.)

Can you give more information on your stimming behaviors?

Do you feel you need a replacement that shocks your nervous system? Or are you more soothed by the repetition of the behavior?
Here are a list (that I'm just putting together from memory real quick so probably many more exist) of ideas to replace self harm and Stimming.

Basics
-fidget or stress relief toys
-items with contradicting textures
-tap or counting objects
-using an items that has a smell you like and basically huffing it I mean that in an innocent and healthy way

More stimulating
-snapping a rubber band on your wrist
-flicking or lightly pinching where you usually self harm
-chewing something hard (if you can that won't damage your teeth,like a hard candy or ice) we carry a lot of tension in our jaw

Ways to shock your nervous system
- ice cold showers
-splashing face with the cold water
- quickly raising your heart rate (rapid jumping jacks or running really fast out of no where LOL)
-eating something really sour or really spicy
I almost forgot putting ice on the back of your neck

 

[whiskeyblanket]

My skin picking is probably a stim (not diagnosed, but almost certainly neurodivergent), and I find that if I have something texturally satisfying in my hands, I'm less likely to do it. I also do other self-harming behaviors, but I don't think those are stims so I can't speak to what might help things like cutting, hitting, etc.

 

[brokenbirdy]

Can you give more information on your stimming behaviors?

Do you feel you need a replacement that shocks your nervous system? Or are you more soothed by the repetition of the behavior?
Here are a list (that I'm just putting together from memory real quick so probably many more exist) of ideas to replace self harm and Stimming.

Basics
-fidget or stress relief toys
-items with contradicting textures
-tap or counting objects
-using an items that has a smell you like and basically huffing it I mean that in an innocent and healthy way

More stimulating
-snapping a rubber band on your wrist
-flicking or lightly pinching where you usually self harm
-chewing something hard (if you can that won't damage your teeth,like a hard candy or ice) we carry a lot of tension in our jaw

Ways to shock your nervous system
- ice cold showers
-splashing face with the cold water
- quickly raising your heart rate (rapid jumping jacks or running really fast out of no where LOL)
-eating something really sour or really spicy
I almost forgot putting ice on the back of your neck

Wow!! Thank you for such an in depth response!! For me, its the sensation of cutting being nice (odd, i know), and the pain being grounding. I think your advice about items with contradicting textures might be helpful.

My skin picking is probably a stim (not diagnosed, but almost certainly neurodivergent), and I find that if I have something texturally satisfying in my hands, I'm less likely to do it. I also do other self-harming behaviors, but I don't think those are stims so I can't speak to what might help things like cutting, hitting, etc.

I think I'll probably try out using textures! Thank you.
(I also have self-harming behaviors unrelated to stimming. Tbh being able to separate which type I'm doing has been helpful to me)

 

[grapevoid]

Wow!! Thank you for such an in depth response!! For me, its the sensation of cutting being nice (odd, i know), and the pain being grounding. I think your advice about items with contradicting textures might be helpful.

I think I'll probably try out using textures! Thank you.
(I also have self-harming behaviors unrelated to stimming. Tbh being able to separate which type I'm doing has been helpful to me)

That's not weird at all- the sensation caused by self harm shocks your nervous system, your brain can really only focus in one place at a time fully. It pulls your brain out of deep feelings. That's why sometimes those other "nervous system shocks" work to prevent sh

Side note: have you ever seen these button keychains? I have really bad adhd. I never have had the urge to do this that I'm aware of but there was one at my therapists office and I couldn't stop pressing it. Now it's mine and I f*** with it fr