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How Did People React When You Told Them That You Are A Self-Injurer?

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

My girlfriend was very upset and threatened to start cutting herself if I didn't stop it. I gave her the knife and invited her to do it if she was serious. She didn't cut herself. She then understood that it was not something that I had started doing for the sheer hell of it, I was doing it because I was unwell. I was so unwell when I told my relatives that I can't remember their reactions.

In Their Own Words Information
Person: 
[male, age 32, began to SI at age 28, Security]

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Gabrielle [male, age 32, began to SI at age 28, Security] in For Self-Injurers - In Their Own Words published by 4 years ago ()

[female, age 18, began to SI at age 16, Art Student]

The counselors acted as counsleors would which made me feel like a statistic. My friends convinced me that they had bigger problems which made me feel like an idiot. When my Dad found out he didn't believe me and thought I was cutting myself for attention, I still don't know how I feel about that. Part of me thinks he might be right, the other part of me wants to smack him and tell him to get a clue.

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Person: 
[female, age 18, began to SI at age 16, Art Student]

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Gabrielle [female, age 18, began to SI at age 16, Art Student] in For Self-Injurers - In Their Own Words published by 4 years ago ()

[female, age 15, began to SI at age 13, high school (freshman)]

My dad is a major trigger for my anger because he's a workahlolic ass and puts me down about it. My mom is my main help source. She's great and I love her very much for it. My sister kinda blows it off as a phase because she went through it as well although not as long. My little brother doesn't really understand since my parents haven't explained it to him. My friends are a built in support group and they understand what I'm thinking during those times.

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Person: 
[female, age 15, began to SI at age 13, high school (freshman)]

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Gabrielle [female, age 15, began to SI at age 13, high school (freshman)] in For Self-Injurers - In Their Own Words published by 4 years ago ()

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

When i told my sister, she cried and i felt really bad about it all. I felt stupid for doing this and i felt realy bad that she had to deal with me. My mom didnt take it so well...I dont think she knew how to react, she seemed mad and sad and yea...she gave me a really hard time about it, and she asked me all kinds of questions and comments that REALLY hurt me, but i dont really hold that against her since she didnt know how to react. My stepdad didnt really say much (which is a good thing, because he knows i dont care too much for his opinions.) My mom went and told some therapist and she looked at my cuts and told me how "serious" it was, and i felt really stupid having to sit in front of her and explain everything. i was very frustrated because no one seemed to understand. But when i was hospitalized, i met tons of teens who SI-ed and understood what i was going through and talking about. I felt so much better knowing that someone knew what i was going through and understood me.

In Their Own Words Information
Person: 
[female, age 16, began to SI at age 14, high school student]

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Gabrielle [female, age 16, began to SI at age 14, high school student] in For Self-Injurers - In Their Own Words published by 4 years ago ()

[female, age 18, began to SI at age 12, university student]

many of them reply with "i dont know what to say..." and i always found thats the answer i like best. it always just made me feel worse when the person tried to sympathize or understand what was going on. it just made me feel like a freak.\n\nWhen i approached my mother with the deep cuts on my arm, she was just stunned at first. Then over the next many many hours at the hospital she was crying a lot and hugging me and telling me she loved me. Over the next week she tried to have many conversations with me, asking me what she could do, or what she had done. I felt absolutely horrible. I felt like the most ungrateful, selfish, stupid brat ever. I felt as if i was the worst human on Earth for having put my Mom through this.

In Their Own Words Information
Person: 
[female, age 18, began to SI at age 12, university student]

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Gabrielle [female, age 18, began to SI at age 12, university student] in For Self-Injurers - In Their Own Words published by 4 years ago ()

[female, age 19, began to SI at age 18, University student]

he one in my class asked a lot of questions, and I told him I wasn't ready to answer them yet, but in reality I feel a bit hurt, like he knows to much and is being nosy. I regret telling him and now I avoid him. My bandmate was great. He talked about the others in the band, said how hard it was for the guy to quit, and that I should try not to do it as much. But he was very supportive and nice, and it felt like a huge relief. My boyfriend never mentions it ever. He probably has no idea how to handle it, and I think it makes him scared.

In Their Own Words Information
Person: 
[female, age 19, began to SI at age 18, University student]

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Gabrielle [female, age 19, began to SI at age 18, University student] in For Self-Injurers - In Their Own Words published by 4 years ago ()