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.
I have a little brother, and he's only 3, I know he doesn't know what it means when someone hurts themselves but still. A few days ago I was watching him and we were playing, and he accidentally pulled down my sleeves from my sweater. I didn't think he would notice or say anything, but he did. I immediately pulled my sleeve down and he tried pulling it back and kept asking, "let me see," and "what happened?" I wanted to cry so badly because it hurt having him see them. I know he doesn't know what they are or what they mean, but he's so important to me. He wasn't the only one to see though... I was spending time with my cousins and sister at the beach, and I was of course wearing a sweater, but it got hot. I didn't know what to do, I couldn't handle the heat, so I took it off. i thought "hey maybe if I stay far enough away, they won't notice or I can just hide my arms behind my back." They noticed... and they all had the same look on their faces, my family knows I'm depressed and that I cut myself, but they've never seen my cuts. I just, I wish I could go back and stop myself from taking my jacket off. I would have suffered from the heat than to have seen the look on their faces. It was like they couldn't believe what they were seeing and like they felt bad for me. They even stared and throughout the whole day they would keep sneaking glances when they thought I wasn't looking. Now I just feel terrible, because I know there are people who feel that once they've seen that look from someone they love, it opens their eyes because they realize they're not only hurting themselves, but the people around them. I'm not one of those people, it makes me feel worse, its like I don't deserve to have people care for me like that. I just, it doesn't make me want to stop, no matter how badly everyone wants me too. And it hurts to see their faces, especially now that they know.
I have small god children and they where with me alot and I cut and would hide it from them. However there did come a time where one did notice them he was 4 years old and asked what happened. I lied and said oh it was a cat. it just went crazy. He took that story and went with it thinking it was funny.
I then was even more protective of the cuts and where they where and hiding them better.
Even though they dont understand or know, I will tell you that person will remember when they are older and hear about cutting they may link it or they may do it later. there have been studies of it I dont really like to think that its true for all.. But my aunt was a cutter and I saw them when I was young and when I was 10 I started cutting as I had the idea... but I really dont think that always happens often.
I know that it hurts and far more then cutting. Do you want to stop cutting???
Remember the more you do it the more scars you will have and the other day I was at a friends who I have been friends with for 9 years, and have been around when I was a cutter and had to cover to make sure her kids never saw that. They never saw the cuts but the other day her daughter who is now 10 yrs old noticed the scars on my arm and asked why are there so many scars on your arm? I could only think of dont you have any scars? she then started showing me all hers, and I changed the topic I was really hurt that she noticed, and ashamed.
I know how you feel about it and little kids are sponges and what we dont think they notice they do and it shows later. Not something to worry about but just keep in mind if your going to keep cutting that you will need to hide them better or pick another area to cut, or if you are wanting to stop cutting then reach out for help and the support which can be found on here too, to help you through to stop cutting. .