Use this guide of stage in wanting to self harm to help kerp yourself clean. All of these bullet list items are for me personally so feel free to substitute them for your own.

Stage 1 🟩

When you're having urges but just need to distract yourself. SH is the last thing you want to do and you're actively trying to avoid it • Stardew, Animal crossing, or Hayday • Make bracelets • Color, paint, or draw • Long shower • Take a walk

Stage 2 🟨

When urges are stronger. You find yourself genuinely debating on whether you should give in or not. Can't stop thinking about it. • Talk to trusted people • Self examine your stresses • Move around and try not to stay in one spot all day • Everything skincare

Stage 3 🟧

You're planning on SH. You're looking for sharp objects and physically struggling to stop yourself. This is usual when I start to become ashamed and can't contact people. Try these techniques depending on your needs: • Pain - Rubber band, ice, cold water • Blood - Red dye, red pen, markers, pealing dried glue • Scars - Permanent marker, paint, food dye • Over stimulation - Freezing shower with clothes on, blasting music, and strobe lights. Blow bubbles in your room with tripy lights and brightly colored YouTube videos • Other grounding techniques

Stage 4 🟥

You're either currently doing SH or have already done it. • Clean up as soon as you can with medicine and bandaids • Inform a trusted person of your relapse • Forgive yourself • Journal about why you relapses and how you can prevent future one's • Edit backup plan to accommodate what went wrong this time

I am currently 143 days clean. I've been using these coping skills for a year now with help from my therapist and it had been an amazing way to keep me clean. I've always hated how simple people try to make it seem to quit. Like "just use a rubber band". That's not going to be enough and sometimes isn't what I need. With this guide I have, I know exactly how to figure out how I'm feeling and what I need to do.

I hope this helps at least a few of you. Let me know if it does and possibly what other options or ways you could change it to better help you!

Stay safe! You're not alone ❤️