What to say

I am completely new to any online forums and resources for mental illness, so I apologize for any mistakes I make on here because I truly don't know what I am doing. I thought I should give it a try because I love that people from anywhere can support each other on here.
I have struggled with depression for the past couple of years, but up until recently it wasn't much of a big deal with my family. I don't think they really realized how much pain I was in, I'm not sure. I have been off and on in therapy, and I am currently working with my doctor and my therapist with trying different medicines (three different ones in the past three months) and trying to get to a better mental state. Anyways, about two years ago I was SIing quite frequently, but I never told anyone because I didn't want to. I stopped after doing it for about four months. Recently I started doing it again. Before I started medication and really working hard on my emotions. But for some reason I feel like maybe I need to tell my doctor and therapist about it. I told my now therapist about how I used to in the past, but I haven't told her that I started doing it again. I never told my doctor about it, and I feel like I am lying to her when she asks me certain questions. Is there any reason that they should know? I just don't know what to do and this has been saying on me... Your advice is greatly welcomed

Hi nomore80,

Welcome to psych central. You have come to a good place, don't worry about 'getting it right', I came with zero experience of anything like this and, with a couple of questions to Community Liaison, I slowly learned to get by, though I keep learning new tricks.

With regard to telling your doctor or therapist, it is completely up to you what you share, but I find that honesty helps them give better care. Maybe disclosing this to your therapist could be a way of taking more responsibility for the SI which would then help if you want to be able to choose to stop.

I'm trying to kick the habit at the moment, and I know that no one can stop me doing it, it's my choice, although I'm certainly not making light of how hard that choice often is!

Best of luck whatever your decision.

Hello nomore80: Welcome to PC!

With regard to your concern, something is driving you to self-harm. Perhaps you know what it is. Or perhaps it is something that is buried within areas of your brain to which your conscious mind does not have access. If you're confident that your tendency to self-harm is now in the past, then there's no reason why you need to tell your doctor & therapist. It's really just up to you. On the other hand, if they aren't aware of this, they can't help you with it.

Of course, you could wait until you begin to feel yourself to be at risk again, or until you've actually done it again. But often, in that situation, people feel too embarrassed to share what's going on. So the whole scenario begins to take on a life of its own, so to speak. So, from my perspective, it's not a question of lying or not lying. It's a question of what is going to be most therapeutic. Personally, I would come down on the side of discussing what has occurred recently & how you're feeling now.

Welcome

What you share is something that you have control over but I find the I share with my therapist and doctor then they know more accurately what you need help with but also if you are concerned about telling them in no way do you have to tell them hope you find some of this helpful