Triggering (SI) - ALways asked where I've cut - why?
I've had a relapse recently after being relatively well, so I'm going back through all the fighting for help, crisis calls, assessments, appointments and all that frustrating stuff.
I'm repeatedly asked if I've self-harmed. When I say I have, I am asked to what degree, and where.
I understand the signficance of asking how bad it is, but does anyone know why I am asked where I have cut?
Also, how is the severity classified? I always state it is superficial, is this correct? When should I use mild/moderate/severe?
Its all or nothing
And nothings all I ever get
Every time I turn it on
I burn it up and burn it out
Not sure. I went to A and E once with, how I described it, quite bad wounds, moderate - severe, but they said It was just superficial.
I always get asked where I've cut, if I don't say they go through a list of common areas until they find the one that makes me flinch. I thought where I was doing it wasn't common but apparently it is.
There are a lot of veins and arteries and what not in your arms, legs, neck, etc, some of which are a bit more shallow and what not and probably for medical purposes even if the cut isn't bad then they could be of more help to you as far as medically and other wise goes.
Let's put a smile on that face
We are not alone
Find out when your cover's blown
There'll be somebody there to break your fall
We are not alone
'Cause when you cut down to the bone
We're really not so different after all
Medically, I think superficial tends to be flesh wounds. You don't damage nerves, tendons, muscle etc...it's just through skin and fat. I could be wrong, but that's what I'm lead to believe.
As for placement affecting severity...I have no idea. I'd hazard a guess at it having to do alongside the depth; if you cut deeply, in a vulnerable area, it's going to put you more at risk than cutting deeply in a relatively 'safe' (though NO self harm is sake) area. If that makes sense?
It is strange, because there are things like assessments with a pyschiatrist and GP. They never ask to see, just ask where and then nod, like they are making judgements based on where I cut.
Its all or nothing
And nothings all I ever get
Every time I turn it on
I burn it up and burn it out
I always got the idea that they asked because that's how they evaluated how you treated yourself. For example if you cut in a really vulnerable/extremely dangerous spot then you really didn't care about things, or for that matter living. Whereas if you cut in a different area you may care more about yourself and are just seeking relief. That's just my thoughts though. ALSO I know that if you cut in certain places like your breasts or genitals it can indicate a history of abuse, especially sexual abuse and that would be a different area that needs to be addressed.
medically some areas would be more dangerous than others... psychologically some people think there may be a significance behind the desisions of where you SI
I hate the asking how bad it is thing... how deep or the quantity of cuts does not correlate to how ad a person is feeling. Though they could just be asking out of concern... I tend to underplay my injuries, alsosay they are superficial just so that I dont get taken to hospital
I am always asked by my gp where I have cut if I have... I think its just so she knows if I did it in an area where there are heaps of veins and stuff... her knowing also helps her to know how I currently am...
for example if I cut in a different spot or somewhere new...
sometimes being strong means not holding back the tears but letting them fall
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I know that having a degree in psychology doesn't make me an expert by any means, but out of personal interest i've also done a lot of reading into self-harm and stuff, and in general (obviously there will always be exceptions) the place you self-harm can say a lot about you. You may not realise it yourself, but to a professional who see a lot of similar cases then cuts in different places can be indicators or different triggers...
Also in terms of medical treatment, a other people have already said, knowing where you have cut can help give an idea about the severity and the treatment needed. for example cuts to specific places could be more likely to leave lasting damage to tendons, nerves, etc, compared to a cut on a place where there is more fat and the nerves are further from the surface.
