question about scars (may trigger)

So about a month ago, I cut on my arm- which is usually not where I cut. So I've been having to wear long sleeves for a month. The thing is, the scars (one in particular) are still very purple I'm really getting worried now that they won't fade for a long time.

Has anyone had scars that were still purple after this much time, but DID eventually fade? I'm really concerned about this now. I don't want to have to hide these forever

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, sweetie, but I had one scar on my arm that was purple for at least 6 months.

How bad is it? Can you pass it off as a cat scratch or something? The one of mine that stayed purple for ages was done with a knife, not a razor blade, so it was kind of wide and deep. (sorry if that's TMI)

My arm is where I usually cut, and I gave up trying to hide it long ago. I find that people don't usually even notice anyway. So I don't think there's any need to hide it, really. If you're that self-conscious about it, say you were doing dishes and couldn't see through the soapy water and a knife came up and bit you (I have used that one and it has worked, I swear! People will believe anything :-). Or, you forgot your key and had to smash a window to get in and the glass that was left in the window cut you (this actually happened to me, and the window was partially smashed anyway, we just hadn't fixed it yet). Of course, that one won't work if you aren't on the ground floor :-).

My best advice is not to worry about it. If nothing else, if someone brings it up, tell them the truth: IT'S NONE OF YOUR F'ING BUSINESS, BUDDY.

Hang in there.

Candy

If I wasn't a psychology major, I wouldn't bother hiding it. Problem is, I am surrounded by psychologists every day, some of whom will be deciding whether or not I get into the grad program I'm applying for. It doesn't attest well to my mental health that I cut. I know there are those who can look past the prejudices and see that I CAN be a therapist, but there are those who can't and I cannot take my chances to find out which of my professors will and will not hold it against me that I cut, ya know?

It's not that bad. Worse than what I generally do, but not the worst ever in my history. I'm what you might call a "delicate" cutter. I don't generally cut bad enough to need stitches. This one was kinda borderline whether or not it was bad enough to need stitches. Probably leaning toward NOT needing them. Anyway it's not going to pass as a cat scratch for sure. Too wide. And next to it is a faded scar that has turned white and on the other side, it's less-purple, less-deep little friend. So it's obvious what it is. Or it will be to anyone who would know- and that would be include psychologists.

Why did I do this?

Hang in there. Try using Scar Zone to speed up the the process. Good Luck. U know what is weird? I am a cutter w/ like a lot of issues , yet I am leaning towards majoring in pyschology when I start college next year ( I am a senior in HS). Am I a weirdo?

Well obviously I wouldn't think so! No, I don't think it's weird. I think it's a positive thing to have therapists who've "been there" and can really understand. Only if they've worked on their own issues, though, ya know? I'm working on mine so that I can be as psychologically healthy as I can before I become a therapist.

Thanks for the advice about scars. My advice to you- if you want to go into psychology, (obviously try to quit cutting, but if you can't...) do NOT cut where it's visible. Try to cut where you can hide it. I hate that we have to do that- we shouldn't have to. But it's a fact that some people will judge you because of your scars

Good luck to you!

Angela

Just some advice.
I also was in a masters program for a semester for counseling psychology... I showed up for my very first class about two years ago and the prof happened to be the president of the counseling office where I received counseling. He wasnt my therapist but he knew who i was and made me feel really stupid for being there. I dropped out.. (for me it was a good thing. Im avoidant so dealing with people problems was a way for me to feel intimacy without being in touch with my own).
so.. I would ask questions about wherever you choose to get counseling and see if they have any connections with where you chose to go to school. Best of luck girls!
esthersvirtue

My therapist is a former professor of mine

Wow. Not sure how you got that to work. but ..well... wow! My teacher all but berated me outta class.. Not someone I wanted for a therapist.

I'm glad that its worked out for you!

I can understand how that could happen. It's like I said in my post above, some people are open about that stuff and non-judgmental and others are not. I lucked out, basically. She was my professor for two years (I was an English major, but I loved psych so much that I used up all my electives on it and she was the only psych prof. so we got to know eachother somewhat). Anyway, my little English major self was struggling SEVERELY that second year (that was around the time I started cutting, actually) and an English professor approached me and said I was in danger of failing. I broke down bawling and she made me promise to get help. (I was VERY against the idea, but I broke down because I knew I had to have help or I would've killed myself I think).

It was a rural area, so I had two options: the guy at the college counseling center (who creeped me out, and was a medical doctor not a psychologist) and my psych. professor. I was horribly embarassed to do it, but I figured it was near the end of the semester and I was graduating, so if she thought it was totally inappropriate of me to ask, I soon would never have to see her again! lol! I emailed her and told her that this other prof. wanted me to get help, told her things were really bad, and before I knew it, I had a therapist and a friend in that professor. I've only had a little bit of therapy from her, but I've had a LOT of contact with her over the years and she is still my T.

I was VERY VERY lucky. She has a history of her own, actually, too, but she has recovered and is amazing. She's an inspiration to me, and a darn good therapist, too. And she supports my goal of becoming a psychologist. She feels that I'll make a good therapist some day.

I know she's a rare find, though, believe me!

Angela

I have a scar on my arm and it's still purple after 9 months... I don't think it will ever go away.

Silver, was it a really deep cut?

That is so wonderful. I know God was lookin out for ya and I think that is great how that all worked out. Maybe she can be your mentor after therapy too!

I totally agree with you on that. No doubt she is a Godsend in my life, and I have told her that. I think (and hope) she'll be mentor to me all my life.

Not very deep, but wide, and I stopped it healing for ages by picking at the scab constantly.

Yeah that would contribute then. I usually do that too, but I've been doing pretty good to resist the urge on this one. So maybe there is hope for me yet?

Yes, maybe. Give it time. Maybe try putting Vitamin E cream on the scar, that is meant to fade them a little.

It sounds like a Keloid scar, I get those all the time it takes a while for them to go away but if you massage it daily with lotion for strech marks it contains vitamin E and collagen to give more elastisity to your skin, scars lack elastisity which is why they some times seem bumpy or purple, it's not the same as your regular skin. Hope this helped! I got this info from a doctor friend, when I asked about my own raised purple scar!

I don't know. It's shiny and if I stretch it, it wrinkles. Sometimes too it has a kind of flaky appearance.

Yup! that's it

So what is a Keloid scar then?

Thanks SpazKatt! Nice meeting you, btw! I like your avatar

A Keloid scar is usually a raised purple, pink or can be skin colored scar that has ridges or bumps, it will have a shiny apperance and can look flaky.

Oh thanks! It actually WORKS at this forum!

They do fade - but it takes a long time (some of mine are still pale mauve after 9 years). Slather on vaseline every day, if nothing else it will stop it itching so much. Palmer's cocoa butter is even better.

XXXXXXXxXXXX

Kattness, you made it!!

I have many scars that have turned purple. They do usually tend to stay that way for a few months and some of mine have stayed for about a year now. I have this cream called scar zone and it has helped them lighten up or fade faster, however you want to think about it. Im sorry i dont have any more advice but you can try the cream and see how it goes.
Max

Vulnerome that is exactly the suff I'm talking about! Palmers coca butter with vitamin E, collagen & elastin.