People who self harm?

Question

People who self harm, is it always the case that they will hide their scars?

Answer 1

People self harm for many reasons, so there are many different types of behaviour. In my experience, behaviour in regard to scars tend to fall in to 3 categories:
1) Those who want the attention and 'flaunt' their scars
2) Those who hide scars as best as they can to avoid anyone interferring
3) Those who don't want the attention, but are tired of hiding.
I fall in to the last category - I don't want anyone asking me about my scars, but I won't avoiding wearing what I want just because of them.

Answer 2

No. It's not always the case. First off, not all self harm leaves scars. Eating disorders, drug abuse, intentional overdoses, and many other things fall under the general catagory of 'self harm,' but don't leave marks the way that forms of self injury like cutting or burning do.

But even among people who self harm in a way that does leave scars, or other visible marks such as bruises or open wounds, not everyone hides them. Many self harmers do hide their scars from everyone. Some people hide them from most people, but show them to a few people their close to when they're in the process of recovery. Other people might show them to someone in an emotional response to communicate to that person who much they've hurt them. And some small population of self harmers (particularly cutters) do it for attention. These people might show their cuts to everyone, or cut in public places, like a school bathroom, where people are likely to see them. They might hide their cuts from strangers, but for these people the main point of cutting is for people to know about it, so they're not going to hide their cuts from the people they're trying to get attention from.

I know a couple people now who used to cut when they were younger, and have some pretty noticable scars from it. Mostly they hide them, but I've seen them occasionally wear clothes that don't cover them. I get the impression that they'd like them to stay hidden, but have decided that sometimes it's just not worth wearing long sleeves when it's really hot out, or never wearing a bathing suit.

Answer 3

Depends - not all self harms are scarring themselves externally there is a whole range of self harming behaviour such as excess drink, drugs, food and unprotected sex.

Someone who cuts to self harm will quite often hide it like an anorexic will hide that they dont eat. Although you do get the odd attention seeker who will tell the whole world to extract sympathy (I am not critising them as I think they need help).

Answer 4

I do not think you self injure for attention. I used to self injure and it took a lot and I do mean a lot of therapy but I was able to stop cutting, etc. Also went into special programs and remain in therapy. Some people do not understand why but it is not for them to. As long as you start acknowledging that you do it and you are willing to get help that is what is most important. It sounds as though you need to try and find a good Psychologist or therapist that you can confide in once you trust them. Also, you say that you do it to feel relief, but do you really feel relief. That is what a lot of people say and I also used to say that but truthfully it is only perceived, temporary relief and then things get worse from there. You have the pain from the injury and then the shame and guilt and so on.......tends to be a vicious cycle. There is typically a deeper cause to why you do this and talking to a Professional will help you get to why you "feel" you need to do this and help you find some other, healthy way to express your feelings. It sounds as though you definitely need to work through your attempted suicide. I realize your heart obviously stopped beating and they had to bring you back to life. Try, if possible to be glad that you are here instead of dwelling on the fact that you almost died. If you truly died (even though i understand what you are saying) you could not be here now asking for help. Asking for help is HUGE. It takes a lot and I do hope you can get the help you need and start to feel better very soon. Feel free to email me if you like. I wish you the best~

Answer 5

Whilst doing it they are likely to cover up the scars.Most but not all will. (It's one way I could tell if my daughter had new cuts to hide) She finds it easier now not to try covering her arms as all her family and friends know she does it. It's part of her therapy to be open with us as much as possible and we've noticed a decrease in the frequency of the episodes of doing it! You shouldn't generalise and say all though. Each person is different and the reasons they try to hide it are as numerous as the reasons they start doing it in the first place. If they are receiving treatment they are less likely to hide the scars!

Answer 6

I would say a lot of people who self harm keep it hidden, they are ashamed of the fact they do it most of the time, it's their way of releasing pain, without having to confide in others for help. However, sometimes i think they do put them in an obvious place, or tell people..not so much as for attention but as a cry for help in some respect, they are trying to tell people they are hurting!

Answer 7

I was in a nail bar once. And there was a girl that clearly self harmed, as she has cut/scratch scars all over her arms, and one on her wrist. She was a goth though. Most people do it, because they are depressed, or they are sorry for doing something wrong, so they punish themselves.

Answer 8

No it is not always the case.

Some like the reaction from people when they have self-harmed meaning they get attention that they want.

Others hide it.

It depends why they do it in the first place

Answer 9

no, i guess not really.
i have many scares done this way, it looks like the ones i've hid too well for years, were the ones i could show only to me as proof i was still human.
i've dealt with child abuse, when force to write with the correct hand of choice, (theirs not mine) today i find unset fractures in different ares of both hands. on my left, they are just behind the knuckles, on the right from punching out walls or trees or anything in an effort to just be who i was meant to be. left handed.
now i have arthritis is both, either can be painfull at times, a final answer was writing with either hands, to avoid the rights of my choosing how to make this fit for a liteme.
my wrists have multiple scars too, none can be hidden, but all are well healed.
perhaps this to was one way to protest the actual ropes i'd been tied with.
it really doesn't matter.......today.

Answer 10

Well I hide mines, but it all depends on the individual and if they ashamed of them.