99 Coping Skills

• Exercise (running, walking, etc.)
• Put on fake tattoos.
• Write (poetry, stories, journal, etc.)
• Scribbling on sheets an sheets of paper
• Be with other people.
• Watch a favorite TV show.
• Posting on web boards, and answering others' posts.
• Go see a movie.
• Watch a movie from your childhood.
• Do schoolwork.
• Play a musical instrument.
• Paint your nails.
• Sing.
• Look up at the sky. (Night is especially beautiful.)
• Punch a punching bag (with gloves on.)
• Cover yourself with Band-Aids where you want to cut.
• Let yourself cry.
• Sleep (only if you are tired.)
• Take a hot shower or relaxing bath.
• Play with a pet.
• Re-organize your room.
• Clean.
• Knit or sew.
• Read a good book.
• Listen to music.
• Watch a candle burn (no playing with the flames!)
• Meditate.
• Go somewhere very public.
• Bake cookies.
• Alphabetize your CD's.
• Paint or draw.
• Ripping paper into itty-bitty pieces
• Hug someone.
• Write letters or email.
• Talk to yourself (or if that feels weird, buy a small tape recorder.)
• Hug a pillow or stuffed animal.
• Hyperfocus on something like a rock, hand, etc.
• Dance.
• Make hot chocolate.
• Play with modeling clay or Play-Dough.
• Build a pillow fort.
• Go for a nice, long drive.
• Complete something you've been putting off.
• Draw on yourself in red marker.
• Take up a new hobby.
• Cook a meal.
• Look at pretty things, like flowers or art.
• Create something.
• Pray.
• Make a list of blessings in your life.
• Read the Bible.
• Go to a friend's house.
• Jump on a trampoline.
• Watch an old, happy movie.
• Call a hotline or your therapist.
• Talk to someone close to you that knows [how you’re suffering.]
• Ride a bicycle.
• Feed the ducks, birds, or squirrels, etc.
• Color with Crayons.
• Memorize a novel, play, or song.
• Stretch.
• Search for ridiculous things on the internet.
• Hunt for stuff on Ebay or Amazon (you can find ANYTHING there).
• Color-coordinate your wardrobe.
• Watch fish.
• Make a tape of your favorite songs.
• Play the “15 minute game.” (You can't cut for 15 minutes, and when the time is up, start again.)
• Plan your wedding / prom / other event.
• Alphabetize your books.
• Hunt for your perfect home in the paper.
• Try to make as many words out of your full name as possible (then do your friends’ names.)
• Sort all your photographs.
• Plan a dinner party.
• Play with a slinky.
• Find yourself some toys and play.
• Start collecting something.
• Play video/computer games.
• Clean up trash at your local park.
• Go out and perform a random act of kindness for someone.
• Call up an old friend.
• Write yourself an "I love you because…" letter.
• Try to build something.
• Rearrange your house.
• Go through all your old stuff.
• Smile at least five people.
• Play with little kids.
• Go for a walk (with or without a friend.)
• Go to the mall.
• Clean your room /closet.
• Try to do handstands.
• Try to do cartwheels, bridges, backbends, and such.
• Teach your pet a new trick.
• Write a note to a very useful inanimate object thanking it for how useful it’s been.
• Move EVERYTHING in your room to a new spot.
• Get together with friends and play Frisbee, soccer or basketball.
• Randomly go up and hug a friend.
• Randomly search MySpace music for new music. Or use Pandora.com.
• Play the "If inanimate objects talked, what would they say?" game.
• Face paint.

Adapted from www.SecretTalk.com