As an addition to Deb’s question, I am also curious as to what type of experiences you have had with plastic surgeons/surgery and dermatologists. Have you had procedures that you can recommend, or others you would suggest avoiding?? If you have a doctor who has been great to work with, let us know, as we are always looking for good doctors to use as referrals. You may also send referral information to my personal e-mail (wladersafe@aol.com) since we would want to check with your doctor to make sure that they would welcome the volume of response he or she might receive.
Many of the clients we have worked with have also had difficult time with ER docs as well as their internists…. I’d be interested in hearing about experiences you may have had, and what you with your doctors would understand about self-injury.
Thanks,
Wendy
I experienced 2 inappropriate and humiliating situations very recently. I had to go to the ER for and injury the first time. The staff were all very considerate, professional, and kind until they pieces together that my injury was self-inflicted. I soon felt like I was a criminal with security posted in my room who were just rude, and for lack of a better word cruel. Just the movement of adjusting myself in the created a lot of yelling and being physically held down until I said I wouldn’t move.
My other experience was in the psych ward, I had been there a couple of weeks, and also knew the staff from previous year’s visits. The social worker came in for ‘group therapy’. I don’t remember what I said, but I reminded him of my SI. HE said “Oh yeah, you are a cutter.” I said “No, but I do self-injure.” And he requested I show my scars to everyone. (What psych patients need or want to see scars?!!) Another patient stepped up and said she injured as well, in an attempt to comfort me & get him off my case. She said to him, “It’s bad enough we get treated like leppers in the ER.” The response from the social worker in front of all the units patients was “At least leppers can be treated and cured.” We left the group, and he was reported on several levels. I was shocked later to realize he is in the same practice as my therapist who specializes in Self Injury.
Once in IOP, I was assigned a different case worker who wanted to send me to the state hospital once she learned of my SI. I printed out SI Patients Bill of Rights and an essay I found on line, gave them to her and requested they be past around the department which she agreed and said she would do.
It’s frustrating dealing with mood disorders and struggling to stop SI, and then recceive this kind of treatment from health professionals. Hopefully the medical world can be better educated and made more aware of SI.
I’ve only had two experiences with professionals. One was when my two best friends forced me to go to the hospital after I had taken 20 extra strength tylenol. The nurses were sweet, although the fact that they wouldn’t leave me alone, even in the bathroom, annoyed me… the ER doctor, however, was condescending, mocking, and rude. Especially when he lifted up my gown in order to feel my stomach, to check if my liver was swollen, and saw the scars both there and on my arms. It wasn’t an encounter I’m fond of remembering. It made me feel dirty and worthless.
On the other hand, shortly after my hospital visit, I finally gave into my friend’s pleas and went to the on-campus counseling center. There I got matched up with a counselor who had dealt with both bulimic and self injury patients before. I really liked her, she was really patient and understanding. What I really loved was that she never once judged me. …I eventually stopped going to see her, however, because I had no formal commitment saying I had to…and although I liked her, the sessions weren’t helping me. I think it was because 1. she immediately recognized that I have self esteem issues and was therefore constantly complimenting me and this made me unbelievably uncomfortable and 2. we became too close, she started becoming like a mother figure…we developed a relationship, so I couldn’t talk to her like I could in the beginning…I started feeling guilt and shame upon telling her things, which eliminates the point of having a therapist over just a listening friend.
Like the two above i was put in a position of great awkwordness, however it was not from the hospital personnel, except for one, that wouldnt let my best friend be with me, because even though at that time i was calm she took it upon her to dx me as dangerous. but here is the brief storey of what happened……..i was working for directv (in which i thank go i dont work there anymore)….and this particular day i was feeling extremely upset after months of not feeling well emotionally and physically. now remember i have not injured or anything for at least 14 years or so…but all of a sudden found my self injuring again, i think now why i was so “sloppy” was that i knew i really needed the help, on a sub concious level….however i had stopped injuring and taken my lorazapam to try to eliviate the anxiety i was having and a co worker had helped me bandage my arm up, and a sup had came in to make sure i was ok, however at that time little did know that the floor managers, who were definately for the b____ in hr, had called 911 on me, fearing that i would go postal on everyone (as i found out later)….however i was cuffed by a police offer and questioned by him all the way to the hospital in why i was injuring and that he thoguht i was trying to committ suicide, which was dumb cuz obviously the injuries were on the wrong part of the wrist not anywhere near the underneath side of the wrist….however thank god for the hospital staff that i did know (including the security gaurds, who definatley didnt treat me like a criminal, but treated me with decentcy), to the doctors and mobile crisis unit that came in to dx me as a S.I. which sided with me in the arguement that my friend should have been back there way sooner than he was, for him to help support me with what was going on…..however i do want to say that with the support of the hospital staff, doctors, the mcu and my friend taking me home and staying with me to his wife (which is my other best friend) staying by my side, i know i wouldnt have gotten the help that am getting today, not saying that at this point i still dont have the urges to injure, because i do, but with help from my doctors and friends/family i know i am on the way to recovery, well not so much recovery because obviously there can be a relapse of this particular “disorder” if you will, but on the way to controlling the urges and redirecting my anxiety to another avenue.
Has anyone had their scars resurfaced? or any other form of plastic surgery? I would like to know if that was successful and whether or not the scars are still visible? Any good doctors in new york or new jersey?
I would also like to know if anyone thought that an antidepressant or other medication they were prescribed made them feel more urges to cut? Were any medications helpful? Thanks so much for the help. Most doctors don’t seem to know much about this topic.
The first time I was admitted the nurse was drawing my blood and didn’t fill all the little bottles up. So she told me she was going to have to re-poke me. I breathed a deep sigh, and she said what’s the matter, I thought you liked pain. It really made me upset, and still does to this day.
As a answer to the medication question… revia helped. They dont usually give it to people who SI, but it helped because i didnt feel ‘high’ when I did it and thus did it less… but nothing truly helped until I went to SAFE
lindy,
I have found that a good antidepressant with an anti anxiety component works for some people. The use of each of these drugs separately did not provide much relief. I permanently take Zoloft for S.A.D. and it does help take the edge off any urges too!
I have found that the lack of education or exposure in small communities to be the main cause of ignorance from medical staff to persons with SI. Also with the shortages experienced in some areas with docs and nursing support staff, it takes a toll on the medical team when they feel helpless to help due to lack of training in self abuse clients.
I too have experienced such similar responses either through the emergency department front line staff, to regular doctor’s physicals, to unrelated tests and procedures that reveal my past trauma. I have found that taking the high road of providing education and not allowing yourself to be criticized by others useful. By remaining confident and courtious, (even if you have to fake it!), people tend to not target you for negative behaviours and comments.
The only experience I’ve had with doctors was recently when I told my stepparents I self injure. They insisted I go to the doctor’s and get put on antidepressants. Both the doctor and her assistant looked at me with disgust and even some fear, like I’d go crazy and hurt them or something. The doctor didn’t even examine me for more than five minutes before refusing to prescribe medication on the grounds that I’d “down the whole bottle when no one was looking,” and telling my stepmother to get me checked into a psych ward at the closest hospital because I was “possibly suicidal” and “a danger to myself and possibly others”. My stepmother had done all the talking so the doctor hadn’t even talked to me before making her judgement. Both my stepmom and I were angered by how I had been treated and left the office.