Prevention Plan

Hi, I have an appointment to see my dermatologist next week. She leaves scalpels out in the exam room. I always take one and use it when I need to. In talking with my therapist today, she said to create a plan so I won't be tempted to take one. I have no idea where/how to start to develop a plan so I don't take a scalpel from the exam room. Can you give me some suggestions where to start? Thanks for your help!

Tell the medical asst./nurse that there should be no scalpels in the exam room because it triggers you and you will be tempted to take them. You need to be responsible for your own self-care and this would be a responsible act. They will understand and will honor your request.

Thanks for the suggestion, but no one knows about my SI except for my T. I'm an adult in my 40s. I will be too embarrassed to tell the nurse.

Don't worry about what she as a person thinks. As being a nurse she is suppose to do what is the best for you/safest stuff for you. She is there to help you, and trust me she is a person too. We all have our bad habits or evil demons we have to face; everyone. Even the doctors and nurses have stuff they do too that isn't good for them. Trust me you'll thank yourself if you do ask her more than if you don't. Or if you are too worried you could always ask your T to like let your dermatologist know.

G

You don't have to tell her why, or be honest about your self harm. You could tell the nurse you have a fear of scalpes and you don't want to see then in the room.

Where do you put them when you take them? If you are female I am thinking probably in your purse or regardless of gender a pant/jacket pocket? So... what if you didn't bring your purse in and wore pants without a pocket such as yoga pants, you know? You're not going to just walk out with them in your hand, but if you have nowhere to put them your plan pretty much falls apart. I don't know though.

Good luck! You're a beautiful person and your safety matters so please do what you can to keep yourself safe!

XO,
Courtney

I agree you don't have to be upfront about the si or your motivation for not wanting the scalpels there... are they packaged? could you bring up them being sterile/clean if they are left out in the office? My dentist would set up trays needed for the procedure and leave everything out in the room before I got in. I mentioned the fact that they were no longer sterile/clean and they never showed up again until the dentist brought them in with himself... No doctor wants to run the risk of having their office look unclean or unsafe...
Or you can just say they make you uncomfortable... just find a way to ask that they not be there alone with you. And I like Courtney's suggestion of not taking/wearing anything you can slip one out in...
Good luck!