Using Self-Harm Comfort Audio to Cope

Healthy coping tools like self-harm comfort audio can play a critical role in the process of getting and staying clean from nonsuicidal self-injury. 

What Is Self-Harm Comfort Audio?

You might have seen this term floating around the Internet already, especially if you've been searching for recovery tools on your own. There's no dictionary definition to fall back on here, but I'd say self-harm comfort audio is any kind of auditory input that helps you cope with cravings and resist the urge to hurt yourself.

That's it. It's that simple—and that adaptable.

Are you a music fan? Any kind of music that lessens the negative impact of your triggers falls under this category. For some people, this might mean listening to soft piano music to calm down, while others might seek catharsis through heavy metal or rap. The genre doesn't matter—it's all about whether it helps you cope.

Self-harm comfort audio doesn't even have to be music. Some folks find ambient sounds, like ocean waves or cafe chatter, more soothing than music with a beat. For others, guided meditations or even just gentle affirmations (which comprise many of the self-harm comfort audio tracks you'll find on YouTube as of this writing) might be more effective.

How to Use Self-Harm Comfort Audio for Recovery

Self-harm comfort audio is easy to find—if you don't already have some go-to, feel-good tracks, you can find something if you poke around music streaming websites or apps. There are also lots of free ambient sound collections on the Internet—and of course, when in doubt, check YouTube.

Probably the most obvious use for self-harm audio is to listen to it whenever you feel a strong urge to hurt yourself. For this reason, it's a good idea to make sure whatever audio you choose is something you can easily access at the drop of a hat.

If you have a smartphone you can keep with you at all times, this will likely be your lifeline to your comfort audio—but if not, you may want to invest a few dollars in something like a small, portable mp3 player and some earbuds. If you like nature sounds, you might also want to find a couple of favorite spots—say, on your porch or at a park—you can easily visit to listen to your favorite sounds in person.

However, in my experience, self-harm comfort audio is most effective when used at other times as well. Using coping techniques like this is not just about overcoming urges in the moment. It's about lessening their hold on you and improving your resilience over time. One important trick to learn is to recognize when you're being triggered. You can then use self-harm comfort audio to soothe yourself before your emotions begin to spiral into urges.

Self-harm comfort audio can likewise be an excellent self-soothing technique for coping with any potential shame, depression, anxiety, or other difficult emotions you may experience if you do give in to your urges despite your best efforts.

I've also found that incorporating self-harm comfort audio into a daily practice, such as a morning meditation or afternoon walk, can be particularly helpful. Having that small swatch of comfort to look forward to each day can be a real boon during (and even beyond) your recovery journey.