Hiding self harm?

Question

I'm feeling the need to self harm (which I haven't done in a while) but my girlfriend disapproves of me doing it.

On the basis that if I cut or burn myself she will spot it quite quickly, is there anything I can do that will be easier to hide?

It's only to get me through the next few weeks then I'm off it again, so no cries of "Don't!" please.

Answer 1

Dont....you are hurting inside as it is and that is more than enough. Go and see a counsellor and try to stop doing it. Get rid of the hurt inside and then you wont want to do it. What made you start this in the first place?. You are not just hurting yourself you are hurting everyone around you especially your girlfriend.

Answer 2

Nobody, with any sense of responsibility or caring for another human being, is going to tell you that self-harming is okay. Not in any way shape or form. Whatever it is that you're facing over the next few weeks, it can be coped with in other ways that are not so dangerous.

You say "then I'm off it again" - but in truth you're not. You know that. You're never "off it again" until you can look back and say that you haven't felt the need and can see that you won't need to in the future.

Go talk to your Doctor about the fact that you feel the need to cut or burn yourself. They can help - and you can be in control.

My best advice as to how to go about that, is to first make an appointment to see your Doc., then pour your story out into a letter and deliver it to the Doc so that he/she's got time to read it before you meet with them. That saves a whole lot of talking time and your Doc will take you more seriously because you've been able to get it all out and they'll have a clear picture of where you're at.

Good luck, friend. There is life after self-harm, honest! :)

Answer 3

I know you've probably heard this many times before, but self harm is often a way of converting apparently unsolvable anxieties into into a form of distress which you have control over- the problem is transferred into the pain. Ideally, I feel you should find a therapist to talk this over with- a good one will not try to tell you to stop but will help you develop coping mechanisms of your own and work with you (if you feel you want to) to find the reasons why you feel this need to self-harm. If you feel you can't do this, then try putting a strong elastic band around your wrist and each time you feel the need to self-harm, give it a good 'ping'. This will generate a 'safe' form of pain which may give you the temporary support you feel you need. One last point; if you are looking for a method of self harm which is easier to hide, then obviously it is something you feel is a problem and a subject of shame to you, and I don't mean just because of you girlfriend. Perhaps instead of hiding it from her, talk to her about it and tell her how you feel; she may be able to offer you some much needed support- after all, what is the easier thing to do- hide from your problems, or be honest?

Answer 4

aloe vera or polysporin will help them heal faster. depending on which direction the cuts are in you can try a watch, or a scrunchy, or large bracelets. if they're up and down you need to know thats even more dangerous then across the wrist and you shouldn't do it or be VERY careful. You could also try wearing a long sleeve shirt under your required short sleeve. You'll still technically in uniform, and you'd have to strip to get out of it. This is only a short term solution-you probably can't get away with the long shirt thing twice. I'm not condoneing it, but I've been there, at about your age. generally you grow out of it by the late teens. I know it's a good way to reduce stress. If someone finds out and freaks try not to let it bother you to much- not only will stress make it worse-but it's extremely common and not as big a deal as some people will make it out to be.

Answer 5

Sorry mate, no one in there right frame of mind should give you that information on here. I know thats not what you want to hear but its the truth, bit like giving you bullets for your gun :( slicing or burning is about control you just need to find some other way mate without harming (easier said than done....) talk to someone else and see if theres away around this, you've obviously done well so far (''which i haven't done in a while'') so dont fall back now, good luck though

Answer 6

I'm not going to say don't as I understand that you have a need to do it. I self harm and when you've got to you've GOT to. Have you tried the elastic band trick, that sometimes helps. You put an elastic band around your wrist and then flick it. It usually helps if you get a release from pain. If you get a release from seeing blood, here's a trick I use. I scribble all over my arms/legs with red biro, wash it all off and then repeat it over and over again until I feel better.

These tricks normally help as it involves some form of self harm but not as noticeable to those who disapprove.

Answer 7

Asking to find a way of hiding self harm is not really appropriate you should be seeking help from a specialist.
If this situation were turned around an it was your girlfriend who was self harming imagine how you would feel if you found out she was asking others how to hide it from you. I think you would feel a little hurt by that.
I would suggest you go and see your f amily doctor and get some help.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, you are actually chosing to self harm and in doing so you will be ultimately chosing to end your relationship with your girlfriend. Self-harm is a short-term solution to something in your past. Don't continue to live your life haunted by the past - get help and that way build a great relationship and future not only for yourself, but with a girlfriend who seems to mean the world to you. I hope you find a solution - try first with your doctor for a referral - or try calling MIND - google them for the phone number near you. Good luck

Answer 9

hunni, this is a terrible thing to do! when you self harm you tend to start doing out of habit- like its addictive. think about why you feel the need to self harm- is it worth it? try and sort out your problems because self harming can only make things worse! i say this because i have been there before, and when i just sat down with a close friend and started to sort out the problem, my life turned around and now i feel fantastic. please dont keep self harming, and i know this is not what you want to hear but it is just a dangerous thing to do and is not worth it. life is what you make of it, so try and look at the brightside.

Answer 10

i know you don't want to hear a dont....but please.
i know just how hard it is to hide them to.
i understand completly where you coming from.

if you're off dont go back on. it will then be even harder to get back off. i did that. i was off...then i went on....then i couldnt get off.....you know how it goes.

do you really want to hurt your girlfriend? hurting yourself is like hurting your girlfriend. my friend taught me that. she said i was killing everyone inside. dont make the same mistake again...you'll probably wont be as lucky this time and end up losing her for good.

it's almost impossible to hide marks from someone as close as a girlfriend.

can you try find an alternative? or go see someone? i sometimes wrap an elastic band round my finger as many times as possible...wait for the blood supply to be cut off...the take it off. it gives a feeling of release and some pain. or the ice-cube trick works nicely (hold ice-cubes in your hand).

good luck with watever you do. please don't make the same mistakes as me...if you're off..try stay off. otherwise it becomes like an addiction.
email me if you want to talk
( [e-mail] )
once again good luck xxx


P.S. i think i got an answer something more like you WANTED to hear:
a thought just popped into my head...have you tried consealer or cover-up (or things like that) to cover the marks?? it just an idea....i dont know if it works though. please let me know. xxxx

listen to my advice above though please xx