If you tend to harm yourself when you're angry, try this recipe for homemade play dough that I got from college about 20 years ago... the cooking is the hardest bit and is the ideal way to get the anger out of your system! Keep it in an airtight container and, if you're using it, put the food colouring and/or scented oils into the dough after you've cooked it and it's cooled enough to kneed it without being cold.
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for improved elasticity)
food coloring
scented oils
Step 1: Mix and heat
Mix all of the ingredients together, and stir over low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potato.
When the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center, remove the pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle.
Please note: if your play dough is still sticky, you just need to cook it longer!
Keep stirring and cooking until the dough is dry and feels like play dough.
Step 2: add as much food colouring and scented oil as you like and kneed it in to the dough until it's well combined!
Step 3: wash your hands so that the food colouring doesn't stain them!
Step 4: if you're not used to mixing dough like I wasn't when I first got the recipe, your arms will be killing you now so use a heated towel over the painful bits and gently massage the muscles that are aching.
Keep away from animals and unsupervised children because of the huge amount of salt in the play dough!
Now you can take out your feelings into it whenever you need to, instead of self-harming!
