So I know warmer weather is coming soon and normally I’d be very excited because I love warm weather, but this year I’m dreading it because of my arm scars.
Last year I cut myself very badly on my wrist, I did it so badly that I get very sick from blood loss and I couldn’t get up without throwing up and my vision going blurry for a couple days. I know there is no reasonable excuse for them because they are very obviously self-inflicted so, I have been wrapping bandages around my arm and just telling people I hurt it.
I’m looking for excuses for why I’d be wearing the bandages so long term. Since my step family (who are still very new family) are very redneck and don’t believe in mental illness there’s no way I’d be comfortable telling the truth. Even though it’s been a very warm winter I’ve been able to keep wearing long sleeves, but it gets very hot in the summer so I can’t keep doing that.
Also I’ve recently started boarding my horses at a new place and I really, really like the people. They always help me out and encourage me with my horses, but I don’t know how to explain the bandages to them since I will be outdoors with them a lot. I thought about possibly telling them that I have bad scars from being in foster care and I don’t feel comfortable showing them (since I already have burn scars on my hand from the same thing.
I love to swim and I love the lake so I’m very bummed out because I wouldn’t know how to cover them for that. I already had to buy a little longer swimsuit bottoms to cover the scars on my hips. I live in a small town in Kansas and a lot of people here aren’t accepting of things like this. Also the idea of showing people is traumatizing to me because the scars represent a lot of bad memories and are very upsetting to me and showing people for some reason would make it worse.
1 comment
Hi, Chelle.
Hmm.. I can’t think of a decent cover story.
However, there are thick wristbands that you can buy (as opposed to regular thin bracelets). I’ve seen some between one to two inches wide before. A fashion accessory is more easily explained than bandages. I’ve seen both males and females wear them, usually with band names on them. I’m not sure where they were bought, but a shopping trip might be in order. Alternatively, you could make an armband yourself. Or even twist a dark cloth elastic headband around the wrist to cover it, provided it doesn’t cut off circulation. Big scrunchy hair ties with large surface area may work as well. Depends on the size and location of your inflictions and what you can get ahold of.
Some possible suggestions.