Self Harm odd questions?

Question

Why is it when you tell a doctor or psychiatrist you self harm, the first thing they ask is "what do you use to harm?"

Why do they do that? Why do they not ask something else like "why do you think you do this?" or something like that.

Surely what instrument is used is not of importance!

Answer 1

That is why they ask what was used first. They don't want to make you over-react, they want you to stay as calm as possible so they can get the answers they need to help you. They do this by starting with the easiest questions first.

What you use is a set thing or things, when it comes to why it may be a mix of emotions which you do not fully understand yourself or there may be something there but you don't know what.

It's a bit like a survey, they will ask simple questions first which are easy to answer and gently lead you into the harder ones requiring more detail. It makes you more likely to participate and also makes you feel like you're not suddenly being launched into something when it comes to the questions like why.

It's also a safety thing and to determine the severity. If you were using something small that only does a little damage that would need cleaning up with a bandage then it is different to something which would cause serious damage that should have immediate professional medical attention.

Answer 2

I've always found that the first thing I'm asked is "Why don't you just stop?", Uhm, if it was that easy to stop, I would stop!

There are varying degrees of self-harm, and I think it can help the professional to understand where you coming from and what you are feeling if they know how you self-harm. Some people self-harm for attention, and other people self-harm as a coping mechanism - finding out how and when a person self-harms can help the proffessional pin point what needs to be done.

The problems I face are very to people who self-harm in other ways - a cutter will face different difficulties to a burner or a banger for example. There are different reasons for self-harming, and understanding these reasons can help us overcome the problems. Some people 'need' the release of the blood, for other people it is the pain they want and for some people if it is the lasting mark they desire.

I'm hoping that the reason they ask is to help them understand, but to be fair - I think only a self-harmer can understand the reasons why someone would self-harm.

I agree with other people who have said that if someone has a desire to self harm, only they can stop themselves. A daughter of a friend self-harmed with used needles when left alone in hospital - self-harmers will always find a way.

If you, or anyone else, wants help and support with a self-harm/self-injury problem, then http://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/selfinjury.php has lots of links and information.

Wishing you well x

Answer 3

As a self harmer myself (recovered, not harming currently) I think we get asked because of the many different ways we can self harm. I have a fear of razors....strange as they were the first tool that i used as a 12 year old girl who started self-harming. The last instrument I used was glass. Some people burn themselves, others prefer not to draw blood but simply to inflict nasty bruising. I think this question helps them to evaluate where we are at...as self harming can stay the same or progress onto more dangerous methods. I havent self harmed for nearly 12 months now.....might not sound long but feels like a life-time to me. I wish you luck x

Answer 4

I suppose there are lots of ways of self-harming - not just instruments, so do not take offence too much, as I suppose they are just trying to get an overall picture, but I agree with you entirely. Self-harming is a symptom of a troubled mind and could manifest itself in many ways, e.g. anoerexia. So a medic has to try to get to the real reason. Nobody knows why they do these things and it was a question to try to shock you. Good luck

Answer 5

rhiannon j - i completely disagree with what you said about seeking attention. i self harm and it most certainly has nothing to do with attention-seeking. i must admit, i don't do it often, but when i do, the last thing i want is for people to notice.
and as for why the doctor will ask what you use i should think it's something to do with whether or not the injury could be infected i.e if you have used a dirty blade or something sterile/clean. the depth of the injury doesn't have much to do with how you're feeling most of the time...a small scratch can show just as much pain as a deep cut. i scratch with my fingernails until it bleeds, but i don't actually think about what i'm doing when i do it, it's become an automatic reaction when i feel down or low.

Answer 6

Self harm comes in many forms.The Psychiatrist asks you because he needs to know what he is dealing with.If you self harm with pills he will be concerned about your liver.If you self harm with knives he will be concerned about how far you will cut next time.It really depends on what you do,people that cut themselves are calling out for help.People that intentionally take overdoses are more serious.They just need to know so they can work out the best way to help & to decide whether you are a threat to yourself or others.

Answer 7

I am not sure they really need to know. Maybe it is for the danger aspect- but yuo can tell quite a bit by what someone uses- ie whether it was preplanned or not, or if there's certain times- eg only when you're at home in your bedroom when you do it.

I personally think it's probably to lead you into the other aspects, at what instrument you use is a straightforward answer (normally), and then you can gradually move on from there?

Answer 8

i think that most doctors ask that first because by self harm they may not assume just cutting because some people pick at their skin to cause sores and others can amazingly do worse things than cutting and so they need to find the sorce as in the tool they use and so yeah even though it sounds weird and not exactly right they have their reasons for it lol!

Answer 9

I tend to ask people what they harm with and where they do it because I have a bit of a fetish with self harm due to my past. Maybe some styles of self harm are more harmful with others... and the safety guidance they offer would be different for overdoses than it would be for blades.
xx

Answer 10

The thing you use to harm yourself could be important. Some methods of self harm (such as cutting or chemical burning) are more dangerous than others, such as hair pulling or pinching yourself. The doctor just wants to assess the persons personal situation