School swimming .... [[Help]] ....?

Question

We have swimming at school later this week but i really dont wanna do it because:
1) All of the girls in my class are lovely and thin and toned etc but the top of my legs are fat and look disgusting.
2) I self harm and dont want people to see the cuts on my wrists.
I really dont want to do it.
Missing the swimming completely is not an option as i missed the last 2.
Help. What should i do?
Thank You ♥

Answer 1

Talk to your school counselor about it. Self harm is a serious issue that you need to address, but forcing you to tell your entire gym class about it violates your right to privacy, and you should be let off the swimming requirement on that grounds (I can't promise that you WILL be, but I think you should be). If they won't let you off for that, since the cuts are on your wrists (as opposed to farther up your arms) you might be able to cover them with some sort of bracelet. If you've ever made friendship bracelets out of string, you can make them pretty wide, and no one will think it's odd that you don't take them off to get in the pool since you supposedly have to cut them off (even though it's actually pretty easy to untie them, or even just stretch them over your hand). You could also get a bunch of rubber bracelets (either the thin round ones, or the LiveStrong type) as those are water-proof, although people might still wonder why you're leaving them on to swim.

I used to cut myself too (and by "used to," I mean as of last week), so I understand how embarassing it can be to be in a situation where you think people will see the cuts. But I think you'll be surprised at how oblivious people can be. This one time, it was really hot out and for one of my classes we went outside. It ended up that I got so hot that I had to take my sweatshirt off, even though I had cuts all down my arm (I think the worst I'd ever done). All I could think about was how everyone would be looking at my arm, but no one even noticed. I tried to keep my sweatshirt over my arm, or turn my arm so no one could see, but no one noticed the occasional slip-up because people just weren't looking for it.

Don't worry about looking "fat." Even if you think the other girls in your class are really pretty, and even if they act like they think so too, all teenage girls are insecure about their bodies. I assure you the other girls are too busy worrying about how fat their own legs are to notice yours. But if you're really worried about it, you can look for the type of bathing suit that has a little skirt, or the kind of tankini that has shorts for the bottoms.

I think that the same thing that applies to cuts also applies to your legs. It may seem like your most obvious feature, and like everyone is going to stare at them and everything, but really, no one will even bother to look. Most of the time, they're never going to look at your legs at all.

There are lots of excuses you can use to get out of it:
1. Get a note from your school counselor. I really think this is what you should try for first. If she's any good at her job, she'll understand how important it is that you not be made to do this.

2. Tell your gym teacher the truth about why you don't want to swim. Of course, if they don't let you off of it then you're kind of screwed (you can't really say ok, wait a minute and I'll go write a note from my parents), so only try that if you're pretty sure she'll let you off. I guess if you did try that and she refused, you could always just flat out refuse to change into your swimsuit, and take your chances with the principal.

3. Tell your gym teacher it's "that time of month" and you can't swim. That works especially well if your gym teacher is male. If your teacher is female, there's always the danger that she'll tell you to use a tampon, although if you really want to make her uncomfortable (and don't mind doing the same to yourself), there's a condition called vaginosis that which causes the vagina to contract whenever anything comes near it and can make it impossible to use a tampon.

4. Get a note from your parents, or fake one. It can say something like you're recovering from a virus or whatever and they don't want you swim.

5. Fake a note from your doctor. You'd have to do a bit of research, though, as I can't come up with a good medical excuse for not swimming. You could say that you're allergic to chlorine or something, but that will only work if it's the first swimming class you've had, since otherwise you'd have to explain why you didn't have the note for the first few classes.

6. Go to a pharmacy and buy an ace bandage (like you'd put on a sprained ankle or whatever). Put it on your ankle and limp into class, favoring the leg with the bandage. Tell your teacher that you'd love to swim but you don't think you can do it since you hurt your ankle (and you'll have the bandage as proof). You could also put it on your wrist, instead, which has the added bonus of covering the cuts.

7. Get some gauze pads and a roller bandage (rolled gauze). Put a gauze pad your hand or arm, and wrap it losely with the roller bandage. A cut bad enough to get you out of swimming would have bled through the bandage enough to see, but a second degree burn wouldn't. Without taking off the bandage, there would be no way to tell there's not a second degree burn under it, and if you did have a bad burn you'd want to keep the bandage dry whenever possible. A first degree burn isn't bad enough to keep you out of the water, and a third degree burn you'd be in the hospital having a skin graft, but I think a second degree burn would work.


P.S. I came across a link to this site in another question on Answers and I thought it might interest you: http://www.jelbab.com/product.asp?prdID=400416
A bathingsuit like that would totally cover the tops of your legs, and it's cute enough that no one would think anything of it. It doesn't do anything to cover your wrists, but like I said earlier, you can use bracelets for that.

There's also this kind of swimsuit: http://www.jelbab.com/product.asp?prdID=400415
But I think that one would require a bit of explanation if you showed up to class in it (unless you normally wear traditional Muslim attire)

Here are a few more swimsuits I found:
http://www.swimmodest.com/colors.lasso
http://www.stitchintimes.com/
https://splas004.secure.omnis.com/store/index.php (that one would cover your wrists, too, but I'm not entirely conviced they've actually started making them yet...)
http://www.ohanaswimwear.com/index.php
http://www.h2owear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=h2o

Answer 2

Go for it! I just started swimming this year on my school team and I thought the same thing about the other girls. It isn't true. No one is perfect. Wear a towel around your waist and take it off only before you get in. However, I soon found that if you are confident, no one will say anything- in fact, most people won't even notice. About the wrists, I don't know a whole lot about cutting, but stopping is the best answer. Can you talk to someone about it? But until that happens, wrap your wrists with athletic tape and tell the coach they hurt when you don't. Hope that helps!

Answer 3

If you are self conscious about your self harming then you need to get help for this. Never mind the how your legs or the rest of your body looks as not everyone is thin and my daughter can attest to that. Swimming is a great way to get a better body. Get some help for you poor self esteem issues and learn to accept your body for what it is. It is what's on the inside that counts and not the outside.

Answer 4

ahh i was in the same boat as you last year. I'd just suggest doing it and getting it over with because there is no easy way out. Although you're self concious about your body, no one is actually going to pay attention as closely to it as you think. As for the self harming, i'd suggest just keeping your arms down so the cuts arn't showing, and maybe putting a bandaide or something on one of two of them if they show.... once you get in the pool people won't be looking at it anyway.. and as soon as you get out put your towel around you with your arms under it. I'm sorry you have to go through this, i know how much anxiety and stress it causes =[ good luck!

Answer 5

School and your peers may seem like the world and the most important thing in it right now but you know what.....when you graduate you will most likely never see those ******* ever, ever again. And when you do just give them the finger! Just gotta deal with it and take it in stride.....You can't be depressed or discouraged. School can be tough. The best remedy for teasing in school is just to laugh along and blow it off. Cause the consequences are minimal and in the larger scheme of things ie life after school you will be happier you made the decision to not let those stuck up snobs bother you. You are just as important as those snobs and hold your head up no matter what!!!

And for pete's sake....stop cutting yourself!!! If you want to help yourself you first gotta stop hurting yourself!!!

Answer 6

Look, love, you really should seek help from a doctor. Self harm indicates a problem, as does thinking everyone else looks lovely and you look disgusting. It's just not true. It's just the way you feel about yourself at this moment. Self harming just increases the self loathing. I know it seems like the answer at the time, but it isn't, believe me. It just makes things worse.

Can you talk to your teacher and tell her your problem and ask for help? Can you talk to anyone at home about this?

Can you please do something, before it beomes a vicious circle.

Even girls who look gorgeous have their own insecurities. You're not the only one.

Please, please seek some help.

Answer 7

I dont know what the right answer is, so I will just give you some suggestions on how to get out of swimming
1. Ear infection, swimmers ear
2. lady issues :|
3. Allergy to cholorine
4. say you cant swim, and you are learning on your own time
5. for religus reasons you must wear shorts and a t shirt.
....

Answer 8

well, here are some exercises for the legs:
step ups are essential they work all parts of you legs
wall-sits
DDR-dance dance revolution (this really toned up my legs)

it may seem important but you need to know, dont get all caught up in school and stuff. its not important. if someone comments on u, punch em(not really) but picture them w/o their swimsuits on!! that always works! LOL

you really shouldnt self harm yourself. the cuts on your wrists wont go away just like that. you could MAYBE wrap them up in medical tape (not ace bandage cuz that will fall off in the water) and pretend you broke your wrists falling off of a horse--thats how i broke mine--or you could just fake sick that day.
lol these are pretty stupid ideas but they will probably work ;-D
hope this helps-which it probably will ;-D
good luck :--)
-sara ♥

Answer 9

Talk to your PE teacher or counselor to let them know you need extra support. Also, is there someone in the class you know and trust? Having their support would be a big help.

Answer 10

Fake a Note!

Thats what I always do!

Sign it by one of your mates that means you dont even have to tell your parents!

Answer 11

You need to talk frankly to your gym teacher about your "cutting" honey. Your problems are bigger than just being a little "chunky." Please be honest with her about what's going on with you, and you will see-everything will be fine... good luck, sweetie!