My marks fade too fast. It kind of triggers me. I have seen plenty of pictures on the net and seen some people with tons of scars. I do not think any of my cuts will be permanent scars. Why do mine all fade? Is it because I am cutting my thighs instead of arms?

I WANT some scars. I guess I am failure at everything.....

I feel like I'm a failure at cutting too lately, can't get the results that I want/need.

But maybe it's not such a bad thing....

I find it hard to believe that you are a failure at everything

[Frankbtl]

UM, it is because there is a streak on invincibility in you!!! So take a hint you are not meant to be cut or scarred!!!
Or the angels, spirits, gods watching over you do not want you cut/scarred, so maybe give them a bit of a rest it's got to be tough being an angel, spirit or god sometimes!!!
Or you've inadvertently come into contact with whatever Superman did so why/how could you defy what is meant to be!!!
Now aren't those excellent reasons why YOU are not a failure and why you should try to give yourself a break??? Those and WE LOVE YOU!!
Now no arguing!!!
Alison

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((( UM ))))))))

[tealBumblebee]

Originally Posted by Useless Me

My marks fade too fast. It kind of triggers me. I have seen plenty of pictures on the net and seen some people with tons of scars. I do not think any of my cuts will be permanent scars. Why do mine all fade? Is it because I am cutting my thighs instead of arms?

I WANT some scars. I guess I am failure at everything.....

I've felt like that before. I think it may have to do with what area is cut. It has nothing to do with being a failure and everything to do with skin regeneration. My thighs have permanent scars but for the amount of cutting i've done there - many have faded and you have to squint to see them. However, i'm done scratches on my abdomen (very lightly - no blood really) and have what appears to be permanent scars. I've done my ankle to the same degree as my thigh and I can't get that scar to go away at all.

I won't tell you that your goal shouldn't be making scars because I've been in that situation and telling you won't make the urges go away. I will say be careful though because when I started carving I made some words and drawings that scarred. I thought I wanted them and now realize that I don't to the extent that i've scratched over one of them to rid of the scar (creating a new one) and constantly hide the other one. So just be careful because permanent means permanent. Feel better soon.

[SeekerOfLife]

UM, why do you want some scars? Today is Tuesday--you will get through this.

[TheWell]

My scars on my thighs start right above my knees and go up about 8 inches. They are each about 3 inches wide and there are so many of them that my skin looks burned. They criss cross each other and overlap. It's horrible. I hate when I have to cover them with large bandages and hope doctors don't ask about them.
I have a couple scars on my forearm that I lie about and a ton on my hand that are finally fading after 20 years.

Scars aren't all they are worked up to be.

[Gavinandnikki]

You don't need scars, you need serious therapy. Really.

[Idiot17]

i should say your not a failure (your not .

Often enough i feel like my scars aren't adequate and i need to cut more to have a deeper scar. So i can have the scars versus them fading.
My most scarred scars are on my arms, abdomen, hands..... Scars on my thighs do fade more. Some i can barely see at this point.

(((((UM))))))

[bronzeowl]

You don't want scars. I have scars that won't fade. Some have faded. Some I've had since I was 12 or so. I used to think I'd want scars this long. Now, I'm embarrassed by them. I can't wear shorts. I often wear long sleeves in summer (I live in the south - 100 degree or more days are not unheard of). And when I do wear short sleeves, I sometimes catch people - professors, other students, cashiers, customers when I worked at the flea market - staring at them.

Scars are overrated. You're not a failure. And this is not something you really want to excel at.

[jacq10]

(((((((Useless)))))))

I can appreciate what you are saying. Whenever I've gone to the ER for stitches and they say I don't need them, or describe my wound as being "superficial" I get those same thoughts. Thoughts that I didn't do it bad enough, thoughts that I wasn't "good enough" at it to warrant actual medical attention.

Having been to the ER 3 times in the past month though, I can say that I don't feel any better about myself needing stitches these times. If anything else, it makes me feel not "good enough" at fighting the thoughts, and I feel like more of a failure.

Try re-framing your fading scars/marks as a sign of strength that your body can heal itself. Try and take strength in that thought, and focus on the good instead of the bad. Easier said than done, but really, scars are there for the long-run, and you never know when they might get you into trouble or make you feel badly about yourself.

Hugs,
Jacq

Thanks Jacq. Nice spin.

[waggiedog]

Yeah, I do sure ''get'' the thing about scares etc. I have some superficial ones from 25 years ago, so that proves they don't always fade. It depends on how your body deals with them. Only another cutter could understand what we get out of cutting, it's just the way it is. I haven't cut for over a month, which is pretty good going for me!! I have felt many many times that I've cut because it's habit!! That's disgusting really isn't it? I send you lots of HUGS and ever more LOVES, as ever. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

[Angelornot]

Originally Posted by Useless Me

My marks fade too fast. It kind of triggers me. I have seen plenty of pictures on the net and seen some people with tons of scars. I do not think any of my cuts will be permanent scars. Why do mine all fade? Is it because I am cutting my thighs instead of arms?

I WANT some scars. I guess I am failure at everything.....

I've felt like you have before. you don't need scars, and you'll regret them later. I've wished I could get rid of some of mine, even though I really wanted the scars at the time.