Hiding Self-Harm Scars?

I'm Kati Morton, a licensed therapist making Mental Health videos!
#katimorton #therapist #therapy

MY BOOKS (in stores now)

ONLINE THERAPY

Join this channel to get access to perks:

YOU CAN SUPPORT THE CHANNEL BY SHOPPING WITH OUR AFFILIATE LINKS

PARTNERSHIP

PLEASE READ
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.

[diaperloverflump]

I hate my scars but every time they start to fade i get the urge to bring them back

[fawnxx.]

when i do it, i find myself thinking “they’re not enough” “i need more” “they’re not deep enough”

[alejandracarranza]

I don't mind my self harm scars but I think they're something really personal and there are certain people I'm just not okay with them seeing

[axelsmantra]

1. You saying "we" and "us" makes it so much better.
2. I miss my scars all the time so this video really helped

[sophwilldoit]

7 months clean. I'm so happy with myself! My goal is 1 year.

[sagewillow]

sometimes I draw over them turn them into caterpillars and butterflies

[blucrybaby]

I’m seeing so many people saying they have been clean for a minute or a day or even longer and lemme just say IM AO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU AND KEEP IT UP I’m proud of you guys

[sadieraeduran]

When i used to cut, i loved just the way it looked.

Now, my recovery scars gives me "flashbacks" so i try hiding my arms from my eyes still

[briellestar]

I 100% want my scars gone. I know a bunch of people have way more noticable scars than me. But when I look at them I feel ashamed. And I'm afraid of people noticing.

[laurenxoxox]

my scars are just a reminder of shame. not pain. i had no reason to self harm. i just did it all over my arms.. i didnt choose places that are easy to hide and i hate myself everyday for it

[kayfaceisthebest]

Couple of slip ups but on the whole, serious self harm 8 years free :D

[Oscar]

I just love how non judgemental you are. It's great <3 

[emilylovesmakup]

I hate my self harm scars everytime i see them i hate myself even more

[crazycat]

I found a tattoo artist that specialises in covering scaring. I saved up and got most of my lower arm tattooed. It's really helped me to move on and also stops me when I have the urge to harm myself again because I don't want to ruin the tattoos

[shrutimallik]

seeing blood and then watching them heal helps me not dissociate because it's a reminder that im yknow an actual live person im not a dream or a hallucination or a robot and my body is capable of doing things and reacting to unexpected situations

[walkingxzombie]

I personally will never cover up or 'hide' my scars. Why should I? They are part of me, they are part of what I've been through. Sure, I could see them as a reminder of all the pain - or I could see them as a reminder that the pain didn't kill me. My scars remind me that although I hurt myself, I got through it and I'm still here today. I'm not ashamed of them because they are part of my past. I don't care if I go out in public and people look at me funny because really, who are they to judge me? I don't care what anyone thinks of them and I'm not afraid to admit that I do indeed have a mental illness. My scars/illness do not define me as a person and anyone who thinks they do isn't someone I'd want in my life anyway. 
I could see this video being helpful to those who want to hide their still fresh wounds from family or friends as a way to not deal with the problem... but really, why hide yourself? There is no reason to. You are beautiful, scars or not. Self-harm shouldn't be shamed and hidden away, how would that help? I can't even begin to explain how angry I would get when my mother would ask me to cover up or wear long sleeve shirts at family gatherings because she didn't want people knowing. She didn't want people to judge our family. She was ashamed of me. Any time she'd ask that of me, I would be sure to wear whatever I wanted - long sleeve or not. 
"I am not going to censor myself to comfort your ignorance" -Jon Stewart
My all time favourite quote, now and forever.

In the end, if you want to hide your scars, that is totally up to you. I just think it's important to remember the reasons why you're deciding to hide yourself when you could simply look and dress however you want. Scars are nothing to be ashamed of, mental illness is not something you should be hiding. How will we eliminate the stigmata of mental illness if we're constantly trying to hide that it exists? Be proud of who you are, what you've been through, because you are beautiful and strong and things will get better. 

[sterlings.]

I'm totally okay with strangers, friends and teachers seeing my scars, but I'm absolutely terrified that my family will notice because they're part of the reasons I hurt myself.
I still self harm, so even if my scars fade, there will be new ones and I'm so scared that my parents and my sisters will see.
What I'm most scared of is my little sister knowing about my self harm and copying me. I hope she never notices.

[bethanihursey]

When people ask about my scars I like to tell them I got in a fight with myself. That brings a little humor to the uncomfortable situation.

[Edgypoo]

I sometimes put doodles and drawings on my arms because they totally distract from the scars and are easier to explain

[daffodil-lamentations]

so I'm totally late but I just wanted to say: if you've been clean for a while, well done! and if you haven't, I love you and I hope you're able to move on! :)