I've been able to stop cutting, due mostly to the help of the people here, but I still have scars on the back of my arm and wrist. My question is, what should I do if people ask about them? Should I try to make something up or tell them the truth, and if so, how? Thanks in advance.
Try not to show them, but if they notice it tell them these are the wounds of your past or that it's not their bussiness, depends on who that person is to you, although I used the second one for all people who saw it. Not the best advice, but oh well... It's really hard to think something relevant.
I've only had someone ask about mine once. Told them they were cat scratches. I don't think they believed me, but they never asked about it again. Telling the truth is entirely up to you and it's okay to depend it on who's asking. Otherwise, I like the idea of just changing the subject. Or you could say, "I don't like to talk about it."
For me personally, when people bring up my scars, I will either be honest if I know them, or I will tell complete strangers who feel like they have a right to know that it is none of their business. It's completely up to you who you want to tell. I used to cover them all the time because I was ashamed of them, but as time went on, I realised I had to accept my body for what it now looks like, and I ditched the long sleeves in summer and learned to embrace them. People still stare, but at the end of the day, my body is absolutely none of their business
I'm not proud of my scars but I don't go out of my way to hide them. If someone happens to see them, and asks me about it, I tell them the truth. It's a part of my past and a daily reminder of how I mutilated my body But everybody's different. It's easy for me to talk about my scars but that might not be the case for you. Do what you feel comfortable with. If you don't feel ready to tell people the truth, go with what BoiGeorge suggested.
My boyfriend used to cut himself and he has scars. The way he handles it is to not actively mention it, but he doesn't hide what's happened when people ask. It's a valid part of your life and growth. I would say exactly what Aspen says, and just say you don't want to talk about it. Show's you're not hiding it, just unhappy discussing it. It all comes down to how you feel bout it. I'd guess you'd tell someone close if the mood took you, otherwise if you're really unhappy with people saying something, saying "I don't want to talk about it" makes it clear you're acknowledging them, but not to go any further. I have an obvious physical sign of my anxieties that when people ask about it I tend to just say "its a long story; I can't be arsed to go into it now", but people very rarely say anything, and never pry further when I say that.
Most people will know what it is. I have a friend who started cutting again, and when I told her that I knew she was like "Oh no, my cat scratched me". I looked at her and said "you don't have a cat". Then she explained. She hasn't cut since our conversation. My point is, people will know. And as all of the above posts say, it's up to you whether you tell them or not. But don't make up an excuse. I think you could say "I used to cut, but I've stopped and I don't want to talk about it". But make that clear. When people ask, it's either because they're indescret and a bit rude, or they're genuinely worried.
