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celebratedrecluse wrote

In the moment, you need to find ways to divert yourself from the activity you have determined is problematic/compulsive. For example, grounding techniques, breathing techniques, someone you can call, diversionary alternative activities, and harm reduction/first aid if you decide to cut anyway.

This means you need to also have some kind of long term plan for how to deal with this, too.

There are no easy answers.

You need to find social supports. That can be online, it also ideally is offline too. It's difficult right now with pandemic, but finding ways to socially distance while going out is perhaps possible depending on your situation.

You also need to cultivate self-reliance. Emotional independence is important, and as a consequence is difficult to grow. A certain toughness is required for survival for most in this world, it comes with time and sometimes need to be relearned as well. Being aware of this, does not mean giving up on the prospect if it seems difficult; it means, rising to the occasion, one step at a time.

There are many things that are unfair. We can do what we can to rectify what we wish, but self-love has to be non-negotiable. It is not easy, but the brutality of life should not be a cause for further, vindictful or vengeful harm, to ourselves or others.

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