"I went to the ER 3-4 times for SI. I was always mistreated. There were some Drs and nurses who were very kind and gentle, but most of the staff was mean, judgmental and cruel. I would still go if I really needed it, but it's a bad experience for me. I often don't get much-needed stitches because I don't feel up to facing this attitude. I'm treated like I'm either manipulative, or crazy, or stupid, and I get some insensitive comments. I never get the same treatment other ER patients get, and Drs avoid dealing with me and make me wait longer than other people, because "it's my fault I got there in the first place."



"Yeah, one time. I was holding the knife, not really going to cut, just wanting to so bad... i was holding it on my leg so i could feel it (i seriously was not intending to actually cut though) and somehow i moved the wrong way without knowing it and accidentally stabbed myself in the leg with it. It wasn't that bad, though. I only needed two stitches. The dr. was incredibly cool. He asked me what happened, and all i said was "i cut myself," (knowing that he could see all the other scars, too - I have a lot of them), and he just stitched me up. But he talked to me like a normal human being. Not like i was stupid or flawed. And he didn't make me feel uncomfortable about it. The nurse i saw before him when i was being assessed at the emergency room was really cold, though. He seemed to not care at all. But, overall it wasn't horrible."



"I've had to seek out medical attention a lot lately for my wounds. In general, the place I go has competent and professional staff (it is a center on a school campus) so there isn't an overtly negative reaction to treating me. But, it's easy for me to see which ones have the hardest time dealing with it/me. There is one doctor though who is outright condescending to me if I have to see her. The last time I went in she looked at me and said something to the effect of, "so you don't have any control over doing this to yourself?" Making it clear that she thought I did and was just choosing to be a nuisance. So, I left feeling even worse about myself then I did going in (which is pretty amazing--who knew I could sink so low) and I've decided that I won't seek treatment anymore unless there is blood spurting or a vein showing. I would rather put up with ugly scars than deal with that humiliation (and does she ask her fat patients whether they have any control when they binge on food?)."



"Stitches twice, and hospitalized for partial thickness burns once. The staff were actually kind of rude and very condescending to me. One nurse actually left the room when she found out that I had done it to myself, and they had to get another nurse to finish."



"the last time, once the administrators at my university found out I had done it, they made me go to the ER to be psychiatrically evaluated, the scratches were just superficial (as usual); the doctors just covered my scratches with gauze and didn't even say anything to me about it, the person who evaluated me seemed unfeeling and bored, and couldn't understand that it was not a suicide attempt... I ended up refusing inpatient and outpatient treatment with the hospital."

I have. I had to get stitches in my wrist once. The medical people I dealt with were all very caring and gentle. I felt very safe with them, and they were condesending or making me feel little or stupid. There have been many other times when i have been sent to doctors for one thing, but then they noticed the wounds or scars. I had an already frightening and horrible hosptialization for an anxiety attack get the added stress of doctors bringing up the fresh burns on my wrist.

[female, age 18, began to self-injure at age 12, university student]

I had to tell my doctor when i had my physical. She was REALLY COOL about it, and i was so glad she didnt freak out. She took it really well, and she didnt tell my mom that i had cut, she told me that i to make the decisions when it came to this. Other than that, other nurses and doctors either pretend that cuts and scars cover my legs, or they cringe.

[female, age 16, began to SI at age 14, high school student]

Yes actually I had to go to the hospital once because I cut an artery and needed stitching. The med. aide was actually very nice, she said we all make mistakes, and that when she was young she had bulimia, so as long as I understand what I'm doing in the hospital, I don't need to be lectured.

[female, age 17, began to SI at age 14, HS student]

I went to A&E on about five occasions. On the third time I was spoken to by a psychiatrist. The fourth and fifth times were when I was in hospital on sections. I had cut my wrists (not trying to kill myself). I didn't go back to A&E voluntarily after the third time, because I was fed up with being treated like I was a danger to myself. On one occasion the doctor tried telling me off, as if I had done something wrong.

[male, age 32, began to SI at age 28, Security]

The first medical professional who found out was my basic doctor. She hugged me, and tried talking to me really calmly and nicely. It was kind of a nice feeling. She set me up with an amazing therapist. Anita (my therapist), was/is very very curious about my SI, i don't think she's had an incredible amount of experience with it all.

But, if this question is asking if i've ever been rushed to a hospital with my veins pouring gallons of blood, then no. There have been a couple times where stitches were needed, but i didn't tell anyone. Those scars aren't very pretty.

[female, age 16, began to SI at age 9, high school student]

One time my parents left the house early in the morning, and I had been having a huge fight with my mom, and I was in a blind rage. I cut myself very very deep, (this was before I began a ritual-type-thing) and started running in the direction of school. Halfway there, I came to my senses and realized that I was bleeding way too much, and I knew I had done something stupid, and had to get help, because I didn't want to die. The closest thing was the school, so I ran to the office and asked for the nurse, but she wasn't there, and there was a huge thing, and the secretaries were being nosy and I found a counselor and everyone knew what was going on in the office. Blah blah blah I ended up being driven to the hospitol by the school police officer in the back of her patrol car. (Never been in one of those before!) She waited with me for the doctor and wouldn't let me knit. (I had my needles in my backpack, but apparently they're dangerous. Chya, ok.) I had to have stitches up the center of my wrist, and the doctor who did it was actually VERY non chalant about it. He was really really nice, and he like, chatted with me. He was cute, too. Dark blue eyes... *giggle*

[female, age 26, began to SI at around age 13, high school]