Self injury scars on arms and patient questions.

[dirtyhippiegirl]

Just curious as to whether anyone else on here who is also a former self-injurer has ever had to deal with questions from patients about your scars? What do you say?

I work mostly with adults and thus don't feel obligated to shape the truth into something less offensive. "I used to cut myself when I was a teenager" tends to end the conversation fairly quickly. But I wonder whether this explanation will eventually get me into trouble as TMI. I'm really good at smiling and nodding when I have that occasional patient who wants to save my soul upon learning of my past.

I work on a burn unit -- thus wearing long sleeves isn't really an option most of the time?

[Liddle Noodnik]

I think it says a lot that in spite of our struggles we're there in the first place. That shows great strength (speakin' for myself lol) - So dealing with these situations can come from within as well. We can trust ourselves to know what to say with whom I think. Sometimes I have said and sometimes I've just veered away from the subject. It took a while and some therapy to get un-self conscious about the scars and I think it'll be the same for you. xo

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

After mucho testing of various brands on my part, I've finally decided that 100% cotton does the trick of covering without being too stifling in the heat. I've also invested in some Grey's Anatomy scrub tops which are also a lot lighter in fabric.

In my neglect of this topic, I missed some awesome replies. Lurved the limp/horse story!

I'm not actually self-conscious about my scars anymore and haven't been for many years. My self-harm history dates back some fifteen years so this ain't my first rodeo. Just trying to sort out a very frustrating dilemma that I believe jadelpn succinctly re-phrased.

I think that covering is probably my most ideal option right now.