I was out shopping today and i saw a girl (well.. i'd say mid 20's) wearing a sleeveless top with really red scars all down her arm. My mum didn't notice just said its not really that hot today, but i just stared and then i started to well up like i was going to cry. Mum didn't seem to realise. I dunno why but its haunted me ever since and I feel so triggered. But i've gone without cutting for 6 days now which is a lot for me atm.
I did have CBT this morning too so I guess its just been on my mind a lot.
Does anyone else get triggered seeing other people's scars?
~If you look in the mirror and don't like what you see.. you can find out first hand what it's like to be me..~
WhichyWay is my baby sister.. I love you baby girl ^_^
I can totally relate to what you're saying. My mum self harms and is quite open about it so it's a bit difficult seeing new cuts amidst old scars constantly. 6 days is amazing though, just keep thinking about how much of an achievement that is :)
Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world awaits in darkness for the light that is you.
I agree, well done for your 6 days self-harm free!
I don't usually get triggered, but when I was in hospital (and pretty unwell tbh) there was a lady who was covered in very severe scars - they were all over her legs and arms, and she showed them openly - and I found that extremely triggering at the time.
There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who, when presented with a glass that is exactly half full, say: 'This glass is half full'. And then there are those who say: 'This glass is half empty'.
The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: 'What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!
Yeah it triggers me to see other people's scars/injurys. It also really upsets me because I don't like to see other people suffering with it. It does make me feel less alone though...
"Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike." - Albus Dumbledore
Its nice to know everyones thoughts. I felt triggered because id seen them but kinda elated that i wasnt alone i guess. But also quite jealous seeing as she'd clearly recovered :/
~If you look in the mirror and don't like what you see.. you can find out first hand what it's like to be me..~
WhichyWay is my baby sister.. I love you baby girl ^_^
A girl served me and my boyfriend in a shop in Mancester once and she had quite obvious self harm scars (if it was any of you guys on here...hi!).
I couldn't actually stop staring and I felt really rude, but it was just weird to see someone else that does it. I mentioned it to my boyfriend when we left the shop and he hadn't noticed a thing.
Theres a friend of a friend that cuts as well and I've been on nights out with her and wanted to mention it, but not been able to because I don't know her very well. Plus her scars are a lot worse than mine so I'd feel stupid saying "I cut too" because my scars are pathetic.
When I see bad scarring it makes me want to have scars like that, but also in a way it reminds me that if I did, I'd have to live with them for life and face bad reactions from people for it.
That's true.. I guess i kinda thought 'woah mine arent like that'. I knew a girl when i was at school that cut and i never mentioned it, but a few years after we got talking and she said she knew i did too but was too scared to mention it, and now we get on great. She's managed to stop but i havent :(
~If you look in the mirror and don't like what you see.. you can find out first hand what it's like to be me..~
WhichyWay is my baby sister.. I love you baby girl ^_^
Being really honest if I see other people with worse scars than I have I do feel mine aren't that bad and want more. Although if I see someone with self harm scars that are considerably worse than mine I feel empathetic towards them and don't want my scars to get to that level. I guess it depends on what mood I'm in at the time.
I do find myself scanning arms to see if people self harm, I'm not even aware I'm doing it mostly. Sometimes totally bare scar free arms make me think "oh that's odd" then I remember it's really my arms that are odd, which kinda makes me sad.
Everyone should know they aren't alone, they are on RYL.
As for the staring, how many threads are created here because someone is upset at the "ignorance" of the public who stare and/or make comments? Maybe next time try to think of how you feel when someone looks at your scars, or think that that person looking could know all too well what it's like to scar their body.
When I see bad scarring it makes me want to have scars like that, but also in a way it reminds me that if I did, I'd have to live with them for life and face bad reactions from people for it.
agreed. and i also get triggered when seeing someone else's scars or cuts. even i also get triggered seeing cuts that i know arent SI related, and injuries that aren't self-harm.
but your aren't alone and it is understandable. i am sorry you felt that way, it stinks.
*hugs*
take one step at a time, keep your head held high, and your eyes on Him, always.
I get all embarrassed. Like, I look at the scars because I think Oh, me too. And then I remember what it feels like to be looked at, and remember that that person doesn't know it's a solidarity-glance, and probably thinks I am being nosy or mean. And I think oh, ****. Better look away.
And that makes it worse.
6 days is a great accomplishment :) Keep up the amazing work!
Scars on other people sometimes trigger me, but I actually get more triggered by seeing limbs without any flaws. It's like... they're so perfect looking... and then there's my arms/legs. I shouldn't do this so much, but, I always look at other peoples' arms to check for scars or cuts. It'd almost be nice to know I'm not all alone- other than I don't want to see anyone else in pain.
*hugs* I hope you're coping alright with this :)
"God take me, because I hate me" -Underoath
We are male and female. We are artists, athletes, and students. We have depression, PTSD, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, or maybe no diagnosis at all. Some of us were abused, some not. We come from all walks of life and can be any age. We are every race or religion that you can think of. Our common link is this: We are in pain. We self-injure. And we are not freaks.
Scars dont trigger me. But I do look. I am just curious!
But fresh cuts would be a different issue. Accidental cuts and grazes I don't mind, but self injury wounds are different and make me uncomfortable if they are paraded around.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
