[reesecups]

This has been an issue for a while. Ever since I started in my teens, and I'm fifty now, I do nothing to tend to my cuts after SI. The only thing I do is wipe away blood and that's it. They are not deep cuts. And I really don't care what happens to them.

What do others do and why? Is self-care part of your SI ritual?

[Atypical_Disaster]

Self-care is definitely part of my SI ritual. I just about always take care of my wounds after I SI. I'm not sure why, it's just soothing to me somehow to take care of them. The only time I don't take care of them is when they're superficial wounds, which is basically never so I don't know.

[reesecups]

It's odd I think that the nurses at the PHP have to look at them and they just usually shrug and say something along the lines of ' put some antibiotic ointment on them'. And it's dismissed. I KNOW I do not cut deep enough to seriously harm myself. That's why I don't understand my Case Manager's threats of hospitalization for it. Frankly, I think she's just threatening.

She's just a therapist intern and the final say would be my pdoc. And I'm pretty sure he wouldn't do it. After all, the cutting is already done. Right?

[SheHulk07]

I put neosporin on my cuts afterwards. I don't (usually) cut deep either, but it just takes a scratch to get an infection, and I'll be very susceptible to infections after this week. Sometimes if it's bleeding a lot, I'll put gauze on it, so it doesn't sit there and drip down my leg.

In the moment though, if I'm really in the mind set of not caring, I won't do anything to it for a while. I cut last night, and I just took care of the cuts today by cleaning them and putting ointment on them.

[reesecups]

I just clean up the blood after awhile and the most attention it gets is rinsed off during a shower. I know, I'm diabetic and prone to not heal quickly and infection. I guess I just don't care?

I made it to my deadline without SI. I took something to keep me calm the rest of the day. Trying to make it through until Tuesday! Don't have enough meds to keep calm for that long without dipping into my 'stash'.

[grey_aj]

***Triggering***

Anti-septic stings, so essentially my wound care is an extension of my self-harm.

But I don't do any of that anymore, so.

- AJ

[reesecups]

I never even thought of that as an extension of SH. Interesting.

Originally Posted by reesecups

I just clean up the blood after awhile and the most attention it gets is rinsed off during a shower.

That is the extent of mine too. I do tend to but a dressing on mine though as I have a habit of knocking into things which always makes me bleed again.

[Switch]

I use to not, but then I met my fiancé, and he promised me he wouldn't make me stop cutting but I had to be safe about it. I usually just walk around the apparent bleeding, or I use to when it's just me, but if he's there he makes sure I put some kind of alcohol or peroxide over it or something. Some of the first cuts that happened when he was around got minority infected and have left much larger scars than normal, plus he comes from a harm reduction back ground so he naturally wants everything to be clean because he understand I can't just stop. I might as well be safe doing it then huh?

[tealBumblebee]

I used to be really big on wound care. I would prepare with gauze, peroxide, water, neosporin, etc. I even would bandage/cover them when I had to go to work (I work in an ER so that just begs to get infected). Now, and I have no idea when it stopped, I guess in the last month, I just stopped doing wound care. I just kind of halfa** wipe the blood and let it heal itself. The only difference i've noticed between the two is the scabbing is a little more coarse when I don't clean it/lubricate the cuts (heals quicker because its kept moist).

Tending to my cuts used to be all part of it for me. I looked after them very well, to prevent scaring and infection.

Antiseptic cream once they stop bleeding. Then fixomul to keep the skin together and prevent scaring. I wash them through the fixomul but leave it on for a few days to at least bind together. More antiseptic if they are hot or sore. Butterfly stiches if they are a bit deeper. Vitamin E or moisturisers on the scars when they are healed over. I still have hideous very noticable scars though.

Been a long time and although I still get urges I do not want to go back there.

[reesecups]

I thought I had beaten the SI for the most part. I never even tended to the wounds until the two previous times I cut. I find it difficult to do. And there's a part of me that doesn't care if they get infected and I die from it. I haven't done anything for the cuts I made Tuesday night. They're not looking great. Fortunately, I don't cut deep so fortunately, I don't have to worry about that.

Thanks for your answer.

Take care

I have numerous growths and cysts on my now, that I have been told were caused from "skin trauma" now I need to go under the knife to get them out. Even though you might not be getting problems now you can years down the track.

MOST of the time when I cut I do it at work, in the mens room.

Nobody can see what I am doing. And since I cut in places where nobody can see (upper thighs mainly) I need to have my pants down when I cut.... It kinda seems strange, but also functional.

ALSO - it gives me access to toilet paper, which I fold over a few times and then use with some medical tape to make my own custom bandages.

It works for me..... I know - I am weird....

[Switch]

Not that weird UM, that actually makes a lot of sense to me. Work is probably a stressful and triggering place where you need it the most. And I cut in the bathroom usually too, when people think I'm in there to pee. When tp is all you have it works. Maybe bring some rubbing alcohol with you to use in there. Bring it in something small and descreet that can fit in your pocket so people don't ask about it.

[reesecups]

When I worked, I would sometimes cut as well..Also, my home was less than 10 minutes away from there. So if I could last, I would go home at lunch and cut.

If work especially triggers you, I can understand why you would do it there.

And cheaper than gauze.

Not sure why you mention the rubbing alcohol. I always use a new razor - so I am safe from infections.

And yes - work is definately a trigger. Daily reminders that I am inadequate/useless.

[LoneWolfie]

I never tend to the cuts. I will wipe away blood and the last few times I have cut deeper because I am using a utility knife. As someone else mentioned I might run water over it after it has stopped. I am also a type 2 diabetic and if I get an infection oh well, I am definitely not concerned about it.

[herethennow]

I cut in the bathroom too. I bring along this small bag that can fit sanitary stuff so people assumed it's just.. that.

Big on wound care though. I feel like it's me finally taking care of myself and my pain...