Thank you for the responses and the understanding. The mark on my arm is not visible now, two days later.

Yes, I do have siblings. I was the oldest and got the best grades in school, while those after me were probably just as intelligent but did not perform as well academically, and had far greater social skills. The most typical refrain from my childhood was something on the order of, "You're book smart, but you don't have any common sense." In other words, the kind of intelligence I *had* did not count, but the kind of intelligence I supposedly *lacked* was what mattered.

I was advised on another site where I posted this (one at which I am a moderator) that I should imagine similar attitudes being shown toward my grandchildren (a boy age 2 1/2, and a girl just turned 1.) I have to say, if anyone ever called them stupid and/or smacked them for getting an answer wrong, I'd have child protective services on the phone by the end of the day. The point being, if they don't deserve such treatment, my inner child doesn't either.

BTW, there was more than one smack and more than one "stupid," but what caused the welt was the final smack, when I picked up a wooden back scratcher and applied it the hard way to the inside of my arm. I examined it and kept an eye on it, but I didn't think treatment was necessary. We decided not to make a special trip to the pdoc, since I have an upcoming appointment already. However, if I were to keep doing this, or if I were to cause myself serious harm, I think I should make a special appointment. Recently my antidepressant was changed, and it hasn't had time to reach therapeutic levels yet. Furthermore, I've been suffering from a lingering cold or flu virus, and I found out that the dextromethorphan in the cold medicine I had been taking interacts badly with my new antidepressant. Goodness knows what that's been doing to my head. I'm now on a different cold medicine, when I need it. Physically I am not quite well yet, but psychologically I am doing much better.

In examining the self-imposed injury, as I say, I would have iced it if necessary, but if one of my grandchildren had a red mark from some accidental bump, I would comfort them and hug them. I did not comfort myself. Instead I added to the damage by berating myself for doing such a thing. At the other site, I was advised to treat my inner child the way I would treat my grandchildren in such a situation.