[RedCedar]

Hi all, I've been a lurker for a while now, and finally decided to post!
I accidentally hit myself in the face with a heavy, metal nail-pulling tool, and now I have a small gash and a bruise on my forehead. It looks like someone hit me, and I'm worried that my T won't believe me if I tell her what actually happened. If I don't say anything, do you think she'll bring it up?

Thanks! And I look forward to getting to know you all!

[growlycat]

Welcome!!!!

It may be better to tell T about it so she isn't left wondering.

I personally would be tempted not to say anything because a T's question about an injury may feel caring. But then again I can be an attention ***** in therapy!

[anilam]

Tell her. Even if she didn't ask she would still be wondering...
Is there a reason you think she wouldn't believe you? Have you lied to her about it in the past?

[Ambra]

I would mention it briefly if I saw my therapist staring at it all the time and wondering about it (it might happen as it's in your face!).

Welcome, by the way

[RedSun]

Hello!
I would bring it up straight away if it was me. My t wouldn't mention it though if I didn't.

[sweepy62]

If it was me, my t would ask right away so I would have to mention it. Due to past history.

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[BlessedRhiannon]

It's been my experience that bringing up an injury right away, and in a light tone makes everything much easier. If you don't say anything or try to hide it or hesitate to explain what happened, it will garner more suspicion than just walking in and saying something. I'd probably say something like "you will not believe what happened to me! I was doing xxx and pulled harder on the tool than I meant to and it flew up and hit me in the face." I'd probably kinda gesture to the wound and say "nice, huh?"

Of course, I'm a bit sarcastic...put your own spin and tone on it.

[healed84]

If my t noticed something like that.. I don't think he would give me enough time to tell him, he would ask flat out!

[stopdog]

I would not bother telling the therapist about unless they asked. And even then I would probably just say accident and go on unless I wanted to tell the therapist about it for some reason. I do not feel the need to inform the therapist of anything unrelated to why I chose to see one. Simply none of their business.

I had something similar (I tripped and hit my head hard) happen to me. I told my pdoc about it when we were walking from the waiting room to his office. Once in the office, we discussed two related things (had I tripped because I was dizzy with my new meds? Were the new meds responsible for the total silence in my head or was it the concussion?).

[RedCedar]

Originally Posted by anilam

Tell her. Even if she didn't ask she would still be wondering...
Is there a reason you think she wouldn't believe you? Have you lied to her about it in the past?

Several people who have seen it have said it looks like someone hit me, so I guess it looks suspicious. And while I haven't ever lied to my T about physical abuse, or stuff like that, but a while back when I had a self harm relapse I lied about fresh cuts/tried to explain them away (didn't work. Duh)

Thanks for all the replies everyone! I think I'll probably end up mentioning it, even though that feels really attention-seeking to me...

[wotchermuggle]

Originally Posted by RedCedar

Several people who have seen it have said it looks like someone hit me, so I guess it looks suspicious. And while I haven't ever lied to my T about physical abuse, or stuff like that, but a while back when I had a self harm relapse I lied about fresh cuts/tried to explain them away (didn't work. Duh)

Thanks for all the replies everyone! I think I'll probably end up mentioning it, even though that feels really attention-seeking to me...

It is going to be obvious and it wasn't intentional. Now, if you'd cut your arms and purposely wore a tank top and didn't say anything....that would be attention seeking.

Last year, I lost my voice. I had been sick (but was much better minus the voice) but the first thing I said was "I sound worse than I am" with a chuckle to go along. If you make light of what happened, it's easier.

If you were to say something like, "Before you ask, no I didn't get into a fist fight with someone. I pelted myself with a metal bar in one of my finer moments this past week" it becomes a joke, not attention seeking.

[RedCedar]

Humor is a good idea. That should make it less awkward. I might also be able to part my hair to cover it. The bruising is starting to go down, and the cut itself isn't all that big. We'll see how visible it even is by Tuesday when I see her next.