Selfharm is like any other addiction, it's hard to just give up. I think selfharm needs to have the same amount of support groups and support for it does for other addictions. The best thing to do to stop selfharm is to talk to a therapist and to keep busy when you feel you want to hurt yourself :) hope all goes well

It is an addiction along with coping skill. I was able to let it go for 5 years and am fighting the urge to start up again. My job is what keeps me from it. There might be some ideas for what to use as alternatives on pinterest. I know other people who will try ideas for there.

When I feel like that I start chopping up things in my yard. I do not want any more scars so I find other things to cut. Other things I do are angry writing or working out. Self harm for me is a way to feel physical pain instead of emotional pain.

you could draw on yourself, hold ice in your hand (some die is red if the blood look is appealing), as well as run you ran under hot water that is not hot enough to burn you

this can give you the sense of pain and ground you without the actual harm.

It is an addiction because your brain starts to need the pain to cope with life whether it be punishment or to feel something

I dont think its an addiction . Its a release of feeling worthless, always screwing up no matter how hard you try..
cutting is a release to let the pressure out.. its feeling numb for so long that we need to feel something... then theres the you deserve it..
At times its a battle because we want to do it so bad....
Next time you want to cut, tell yourself, "no, I wont today because... (say something nice about yourself, or something nice you did today)