For a lot of years I kept them hidden and they never got in the way of jobs or relationships. I think when people did see them they didn't know what to say so they said nothing just may have looked at me a bit weird. As I get older I have a lot more scars and some that I can't hide. Still hasn't affected my job or family relationships but the last girl I dated I had to tell her. I was so scared but she was very understanding and didn't judge me. I guess Ive been pretty lucky so far my cutting hasn't caused problems with work or relationships.

It will NOT cost you a job. That is illegal to not hire someone because they have scars. If that ever happened to you, you could sue the living hell out the company. So, I would not worry about that.

For me, it has not really effected my life at all. I don't mind having marks on my body an not many people are going to ask about it.

My scars have not affected my schoolwork or my ability to find a job. It has affected everything else though. My scars are pretty noticeable, especially on my upper arms and my stomach. It makes people stare at me. It made my boyfriend uncomfortable for the first few months that we were dating. The worst part is knowing they'll never go away

Recently I've been doing it more and it's leaving more visible scars. And since I'm certified to work in a medical setting, it does worry me that job seekers will be suspicious of my scars (& marks). But like Alice said, they can't keep you from getting a job.

I can think of a few instances though, where people have asked "what happened to your arm?" Or "what's that on your wrist"..... Which makes me go into a panic attack, because the shame kicks in, but I just say "nothing" or "I don't want to talk about it".

Now that I do think of it, it has made me a lot more self conscious also, like, of what people think of me and judge me and stuff, like that.

Most of the effects have been psychological for me as well... I still have no one on my familly knowing but I also get extremely anxious when one of them gets suspicious or asks about it. Some friends and my boyfriend know tho, but I still won't let them see because I don't want them worrying; so I sometimes won't let my bf hold my hand or touch my arm or I would panick if he does even if he says that's okay and wants to help (can't always wear long sleeves, very hot weather all year long here). My passion for volleyball and my desires for training have also become dependent on if I've got marks on my inner arm (they are usually not permanent). Finally I feel terrible for having to lie to all the ones that care about me.
So... the effects it might have on your relationships depend on how you and your loved ones handle it, but it should never interfere with your job or studies.

Ways SI has affected my life: I have hid my hands my whole life and I'm 69 years old. So I've spent lots of money buying fake finger nails and I can't even tell you the time it takes to put them on, and how much shame I feel when I think I know what other people think of me. I have to wear long sleeves even in the wintertime. People must notice this. More SHAME. I'm worried the affected area is going to get larger and larger on my arm. And it really hurts and itches. I have had infections before and it is the ugliest thing I've every seen. I can't stop. I keep failing. I would throw away my knives, but what about cooking? I need help. This is terrible. It's discouraging when I hear about so much success with others.:(:(

I hide my hands as well. I believe this is the reason why SI hasn't affected my job. But, it marked all other aspects in my life. I consider myself lucky, because my husband understands me and loves me the way I am.
Thinking of ways the scars and self -harming in general , has affected my life, I can give a few examples:
* In the rare occasions I go for a swim, everybody are trying to get a glance at my arms without me noticing. It's not something I like, but..I can't do anything about it.
* I can't wear anything with short sleeves. This includes cocktail dresses and because I can't find anything to wear, I usually miss out the company events.....
* when I'm in "the bad mood", I can't function at all. I've missed so precious moments with my little girl because of this...

For me the effects really have been mostly psychological. No one has stopped being friends with me or broken up with me or fired me because of the scars but I get super paranoid- especially around family cos I'm wondering if they're trying to see my arm. I hope one day I'll stop but I know that's not going to be anytime soon- not being pessimistic, just realistic. I refuse to fool myself and set some unreachable goal. Instead of saying I'm never gonna cut again and feeling shitty about myself when I do I tell myself I'll try to cut less or not cut as deep. Lately I've been finding myself being able to resist the urge and I am so thankful for that..

the only way it really affects me is by making me self-conscious. i hide my hands, arms, legs, stomach, chest. it's never interfered with a job, school, relationship, etc... people who have seen my scars (like sexual partners) have either ignored them, asked about them, paid extra attention to them by touching, licking or kissing them, or were a little weirded out by them but didn't really say anything. i have only ever had one person try to intervene and this was when i was a teenager and a kid i didn't even know at school saw the scars on my hands and arms when i was washing paint off my hands in art class and went to the school guidance counselor and told what he saw. i got called into the office and confronted by the guidance counselor, psychologist and principal. they demanded to see my hands and arms and i had to go to weekly school psychologist appointments for a while after that. the kid was afraid of me after he told and avoided me like crazy, but i actually admired him for doing it because what he didn't know was what the scars were a symptom of and what i was really dealing with at home - and he was the only person to even notice. i was too scared to talk to school authorities about why i was cutting so the therapy was useless, but i did eventually talk to the kid who told on me when i kept running into him smoking cigarettes under the football bleachers at lunch. he was really my only healthy outlet.

As a continuing self harmer I can say that self harming has affected every aspect of my life. I can't cry without hurting myself, usually cutting. For me it is an addiction. I am trying to improve my life, I don't know if it will do any good to quit hurting myself or not.

I've got scars all over my thighs, stomach, and back. In relationships I've always told boyfriends about it before I let them see. The part that has been hard is with kids. I am a nanny. Though I wear clothes that hide the scars, the kids have seen. They ask and I never know what to say. My answer I've come up with is "I'll tell you when you're older." I don't want the kids to know these things. I don't swim anymore because I hate people seeing. I don't want anyone to ever think it was an attention thing. It never was. I always did my legs and my stomach and my back, because I lived in Arizona, so I couldn't hide my arms. I haven't cut in over a year, but I honestly miss the feeling. I hate the scars, but I love the release.

SI has affected a lot of things in my life. I am always self conscious, so it is hard to get close to people, because I am always hiding or am afraid to talk about my life or let them see my scars. I am always hiding my arms, and wear long sleeves all year long. I am always afraid someone will find out and will hate me. It hasn't affected my job too much, but people at work look at me weird when I wear long sleeves in the summertime...