I HATE how (recognizable) self harm *wounds* are treated differently.
Like, any other wound, from road rash to surgical wounds, are only expected to be covered up under 2 circumstances: if it's dangerous for you to have them uncovered, or if you could spread a pathogen to others if they're left uncovered.
Cutting wounds in particular tend to scab over well, which is the body's extremely effective defense mechanism against pathogens. Without visible signs of infection, they're also not in the category of wounds likely to spread pathogens.
Seriously, let people with self harm wounds walk around with them uncovered. It's better than us dying of heatstroke. It's just another tool to make us feel self conscious and ashamed. This is made so clear by "but what if you trigger someone else who is or has self harm-ing/ed?"
Yeah and what if I make someone who's actively self harming feel less alone? What if I stand as an example that it's possible to survive relapses and ongoing addiction/other reasons for self harming, not just when you're not self-harming but even when you are?
Hell, what if I do have compassion for those who may be triggered by my wounds (I don't get it, but everyone's different) but still don't plan my entire wardrobe around the needs of strangers, because my body triggering someone is not something I'm doing to them? What if this is just scar discourse all over again? What if we acknowledge that trauma isn't always rational and that people can be triggered by fully neutral physical features another person has, AND that person doesn't have to hide those features because of that, because conflicting access needs exist and often require more complex solutions than "censor yourself/your identity" or "just deal with your trigger"?
I'm seriously about to start going out in public with my healing wounds. If the cops get called on me, the power chair isn't in my favor, but the whiteness and the lifetime of navigating toxic middle class "etiquette" and social interactions is. (Largely, my experiences with cops have proven that my privilege keeps me safe. The one near-exception was right after a suicide attempt that would have gone the other way had they arrived two minutes sooner, that they clearly did NOT have the training OR compassion to handle and did EVERYTHING wrong).
Just like. I respect if people who self harm have a different perspective on this (I don't actually think anyone who doesn't self harm has an opinion that matters tbh. Maybe rude of me, but it's what I've got right now). But like. What if we all worked together to develop a culture where visible wounds were less triggering in the first place, and didn't hold self harmers to different standards?
Many good points, though I must note that people with significant scarring/visible physical differences as a result of non-psychiatric health issues often face similar struggles according expectations to cover up their "triggering and inappropriate" bodies. People who self harm aren't the only people who get told that their bodies aren't appropriate for public spaces.
dededos
areudirty
janainaart
theartofmadeline
titsay
