Show my therapist my scars?
I’ve been seeing my therapist for 4.5 years now. I really trust her and we have a good working relationship. In the time I’ve been seeing her I have done a lot of work and am now 4 year sober from alcohol. I haven’t been able to stop cutting but I have had longer periods without needing to.
Recently my cutting has increased so we’ve been talking about it more. I have a few small scars on one arm so she’s seen those but the rest of my scars are hidden. I have a few on my upper thighs that are old but for the last 15ish years I’ve been cutting only on my breasts. No one has seen the scars with the exception of my gyno who has also had to stitch me. I wear a bra even during sex. I have dozens, probably over 100 scars on each breast. I’m so so ashamed of them and it keeps me from dating.
I have heard some people say showing their scars helped their recovery. I showed my therapist a very graphic photo one time- it was a couple years old when I showed it to her- but in the photo I was in a black out and had cut myself so it was intense. It really helped me be more open with her about my cutting. So I just wonder if showing her my scars- healed and not- would help? If it was just on my arms I wouldn’t be as hesitant but given it’s my breasts it just seems weird.
Has anyone showed their therapist? Has anyone showed their therapist a location other than arms? If your therapist was comfortable with it, would you do it? I’m nervous to even ask her because if she says no I think it would make me feel more shame.
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