Alternatives to self-harm

Hello!

Well today's gonna be a little different because yeah, it's not about eating habits but rather more on self harm and depression and mood. Many of us actually do have depression coupled with our eating disorder because it's all linked. Well, in my opinion, the eating habits are the easier ones to tackle while the depression... It's gonna be a little harder because you can force feed someone but you cant force them to be happy.

So I know there are lots of posts on this topic but really how many actually do work? Well I've collated some I think is more effective (rather than like "read a book", I mean really how's that gonna help remove your emotions?)

ALTERNATIVES TO RELEASE YOUR EMOTIONS : 

1. Crush paper
2. Squeeze a stress ball
3. Punch your pillow
4. Play basket ball
5. Run or Jog
6. Play a game that pisses you off even more (Well it works for me. I end up laughing)
7. I once made a cardboard doll and harmed it instead of myself....

Ok I've got nothing much. But channel your ENERGY to something that requires physical movement. That will be your outlet. I mean yeah maybe reading a book works for some but when I get mad or upset I feel really really restless and I need to move about or do something that requires movement or I'll just like explode. 

Either way, whenever you want to self harm remember that the scars won't look nice. Remember your clean days streak. Think of how your parents and friends won't want you to do that. Think how will self harming help you in your problems? All you need is an outlet, and self harming isn't a solutions, self harming is your outlet. But choose another outlet because self harming is not worth it. And most importantly if you believe in the bible,

Leviticus 19:28New International Version (NIV) : “‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.1 Corinthians 6:19-20New International Version (NIV) : Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Love Yourself

I know it's hard; with all these messages by the media that thin is beautiful, perfection is tall and slender fair skinned women you see on every other fashion magazine. But that's not true. And we all know that. But why does it still affect us even if we know it's not true? Well that's hard to explain honestly. Because I guess as humans we all want to be perfect because we know we're not. 

Well so why should you love your body? Or actually why shouldn't you hate your body? 

If you had a dollar coin, would you exchange it for a 20 cent coin that's shinier? Well if you would then please come to my house I'd love to trade all your dollars for a shiny 20 cents! But most of us wouldn't. Why? Because the dollar has more value! So what if the 20 cents coin is shiny? Does it improve in value? No! Well yes it may leave a more lasting impression in your mind but if someone stole a dollar from you, you'd more likely realize it than if someone stole a 20 cents from you right? Like wise, if you're that "normal dollar coin" rather than the "shiny 20 cents coin", you'd be more treasured by the people around you. If you were missing one day people would realize because you were of great value to them. Whilst the shiny 20 cent coin? Merely a pretty face that makes people stop and stare, but the impression they make only lasts a while. 

Also let's think of your body as a car. If you've only got 1 car would you drive carelessly? No right, because what would happen if you didn't have your car? You wouldn't be able to travel around fast or far. Would you not care if the fuel is running low? No because you wouldn't want it to die halfway on the road. Likewise take the car as your body. Why would you not take care of it well? Why would you skip your meals and deprive it of the energy it needs to run on? 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 

Last but not least, instead definitely the most important - Our bodies don't belong to us. We're like souls in rented bodies. When we die you don't take your physical body along but rather your soul goes somewhere. If you borrowed a friend's item you'd definitely take care of it right? Or who would ever want to lend anything to you ever again? Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is God himself as well. So can you imagine God living in you, suffering the pain because you don't love yourself? You're insulting God who created you. Also you're insulting that God stays in a horrible place. You're also being very irresponsible when you don't take care if yourself because you have to take care of the place God lives in. Furthermore you're making your family and friends worry, you don't want to be a liability right? 

And I guess this is a really dumb question to ask, but often we do the opposite of what we answer. Could you tell me :

Is someone who loves their body happier or someone who hates their body happier in life? 

Happiness is a choice. Love is a choice. Hate is a choice. You wouldn't love yourself any more if you were any thinner because you'd never be perfect and you'd never feel contented. So why sacrifice your happiness and endanger your life when you can choose to accept and love your body for how it is? If I told you I hate my body, what would you say to me? Now tell the same to yourself. Why do you have double standards? Exactly.

Love yourself and your body, your appearance is but temporary and your worth is not determined by your looks. You've only got one life and one body and one self, why waste it by hating it?