Self-Injury Support Group

Whether you or someone you know or love struggles with self-injury, this is the community to discuss your experience, find support, meet others going through the same, and get advice on how to stop. Working together, we can help find alternative coping skills to reduce the urge to self-harm.

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kristi569 02/23/2011

Hey, all. Here's my situation: On Sunday, I was told that I had a vaccination at the doctor's office the next afternoon. Unfortunately, I have fresh cuts and scars near the area where they administer the shot. For the first time in my life, I played sick in order to get out of the appointment. The vaccination was rescheduled for Friday, and I'm still screwed. I will have gotten away with SI for three years this April, and it's hard to believe that it could all be over so quickly. My mother will also be in the room. I am blessed that my cutting has never been life-threatening, and while I recognize it as a problem that must be addressed, being discovered now would effectively ruin my life.
At this point, I'm looking for suggestions on makeup, ways to hide the obvious and inexcusable cuts, and, less optimistically, experiences from anyone who was discovered at their doctor's office.

violettt 02/23/2011

Maybe you want to be discovered. Sometimes we need that because the weight of our secrets gets so heavy. I'm not a shrink or anything, but maybe you need to be noticed.

deleted_user 02/24/2011

Yeah sorry hun but I agree with Violettt. I know how you feel about not wanting anyone to notice, but its like if we never let anyone know, we never get any better! Also, it may not have seemed life threatening yet, but you could get infections and stuff and this addiction is progressive. That means that you should get help before it ever does become life threatening!
Best of luck to you!

deleted_user 02/24/2011

The other two have some valid points. You may need to get help eventually but it should be when you are ready for it. if you really think that you are not ready to get discovered in such a way then there are a few things you can do. If they are only on one side of your body you can ask to get the shot on the other side, you don't have to say why. Putting makeup on open wounds isn't advisable but if they have healed by the time you go to the doctors then you can use cover up. Another one that I have heard of people using but haven't used myself is wrapping the area with a sports bandage and saying you fell and sprained something so you need to keep the bandage on.

deleted_user 02/24/2011

All valid points...but if you wrap it and say it's sprained...the doctor will want to have a look at it. Besides...when are lying and deception ever a good idea? Lying only hurts yourself.
As tough as it is...I think it may be good for you to be "discovered" so you can get help now and stop before you do damage that you can't conceal. Believe me...I'm a 36 year old mother now with "emo" scars. How do you think people look at me? My kid has to see them. His teachers have to see them. His friends and their parents have to see them. I wish someone had seen what I was doing to myself and gotten help for me!
Sometimes what we want...and what is best for us are not the same. This is an opportunity for you to get the help you need...please take it! ((HUGS))

deleted_user 02/24/2011

Try putting bandaids over them. It has always worked for me and all that the doctor has to know is that your cat scratched you. I had an appointment with my psychiatrist a while back and I had just cut a couple days before. I covered my cuts with bandaids so they couldn't be seen. I also did the same when I had to go give blood because I had cut on both arms.

Justonekitty 02/25/2011

I dont know the extent of your cuts. My arms are very clean no marks except I lost control a few wks ago and cut. I thought it would heal by my drs apt but didnt. It wasnt an exam but I had labs done. I extended my arm and said "you are not taking blood from here? I cut myself on something. "How did u do that? (the dreaded question). I said " in the garage. I was looking for something.". She showed me a scrape on her nuckle and told me her story. She even suggested mederma for the scars.

TwilightStar 02/25/2011

Even if you do make up, if its close enough to where your getting the shot it will most likely get wiped away when they sterilize the area with that cloth.

I always try to be honest with doctors. But I understand how the situation changes once you get your mother involved.

Unless you can cover it with jewelry or clothing, your pretty much stuck as far as covering those kind of cuts up for something like this. It might be easier to simply bare it and think of something to strike up a conversation with when going into the doctors office in hopes that it will distract enough for the duration of the visit so that even if one can sort of see the cuts it doesnt make its way into conversation easily. Just be prepared to keep adding more to the conversation to keep it going.

kristi569 02/25/2011

Thanks for your replies--I agree that I need help, but I'd prefer to seek treatment on my own terms without my mother being in the room to overreact. I was lucky today and the doctor's office was super-crowded; combined with makeup and some wardrobe tricks, I avoided any questions from the junior nurse they had working there. I really appreciate your suggestions and experiences, though, and I'll consider them when I'm searching for help in the future. Take care!

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