What kinds of attitudes have you encountered when seeking medical help?

At first, I was always going to the ER and the doctors were often angry and retributive about it. They would ask if I was suicidal, and then seem disgusted when I said no. A lot of times they sent me to the psych ward. Dealing with the reactions of doctors was one of the worst aspects of living with this problem for me -- it traumatized me quite a bit. It seems to bring out the worst in lots of people, but doctors especially, and psychiatrists more especially. [female, age 39, 27 years SIB off and on, BA]

Many times [I've been] medically treated. Been stitched and stapled without anaesthetic. Had steri-strips on deep cuts that immediately came open and were then left. Been told off. Been told I was wasting people's time. Been told I was lying when I went back after the stitches came undone. Have been met with "oh, my god!" when seeing my legs. Been lectured once how I shouldn't have done it. Avoid hospitals if at all possible although some individuals have been very good to me. [female, age 28, 3 years SIB]

Mostly I will take care of my own injuries. I hate hospitals. When I go to a hospital for something else they look at my arm and give me a bad attitude like I'm crazy or something. Or they whisk me away to another hospital for mental problems. [female, age 24, 4 years SIB, some college, CNA/certified EKG tech]

Yes many times. I'd have to say around ten times. Of course several have [been angry/abusive] - that's when they sew you up without a shot to deaden first. Like you deserve more pain [because you] do that to yourself. Wish there were more understanding and help out in the real world. [female, age 39, 12 years SIB, 12 years education]

Yes, twice. Yes the doctor gave me 20 stitches without anesthetic. [female, age 27, 16 years SIB]

YES-- twice at a hospital and many times at the doctor's office. My personal physician is great. She had had previous experience working with it and has definitely been an asset to my recovery. The first hospital went ballistic and wanted to put me in a state psych hospital and ridiculed me for being so stupid. When I went through drug rehab I probably had my most serious act of SM. That staff freaked out at first but one of them believed me and was helpful. I ended up in a hospital this time due to massive infection from a large third-degree burn on my arm. The doctor didn't freak... He was just blunt... Before he treated me, he asked me if I planned on doing it again. If so, he wasn't going to treat it... but if not then he would. I said that I couldn't promise but I would try as best I could. From then on, he treated me like any other patient. I think I needed his honesty. He told me that he might have to take my arm and he didn't blame me or be sarcastic. He saved my arm and I have only used SM once since then and I stopped myself just after I started. [female, age 28, 10 years SIB, Master's degree]

That night the [doctor on call] knew me. I had already been there earlier in the day after cutting my mid- and upper abdominal area with a razor blade. There had been a change in shift but the nurses told him I was seen earlier by the other doctor. I wouldn't have gone in for the wrist except I was sitting in my car at a park and someone reported me to the police and they came and called the medics. When this doctor came in I was holding the gauze on my wrist applying pressure. He jerked it off, took one look at it, and threw the gauze back in my lap and said, "I don't have time for this shit! I will come back later." He stormed out. A few minutes later the nurse came in and yelled at me because I didn't have the gauze on my wrist. I tried explaining it was the Dr.'s fault but it didn't go over really well. He came back in about 45 min later. He said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that but I am so busy I don't have time for things like this especially when it's intentional." I just sat there because I couldn't do anything else with the police right outside my room. Believe me I am a lot more careful now![female, age 30, 2 yrs SIB, associate's degree]

I have been treated 5 times, 2 of which were very serious. I only had one doctor who was really rude to me, but almost all of the nurses acted like I was a waste of time. [male, 16, 4 years of SIB, HS graduate]

Oh yeah, I have had to go to the ER for cutting too deep with glass, and the nurses and doctors there acted very strange and mad. I do not cut or burn for sympathy, I do not want sympathy from anyone, and I just want to be treated for my injuries and left the hell alone. [female, age 22, 2 years SIB, 3 years college]

We have been stitched up a few times and doctors have definitely pulled attitude. We learned very quickly that if we do need medical help we contact our therapist first so the ER doctors don't admit us to the Mental Health unit automatically. We also depend on tape stitches a lot. [female, age 46]

I was treated for cuts on my arms before I was admitted to the psych ward. This has happened twice. I had walked into busy traffic and had open cuts on my arms. They treated me at the ER for the cuts... and yes the doctor pulled attitude. He told me that what I did was completely stupid and uncool. He didn't understand at all. He just kept saying over and over how uncool my cutting was. He told me to get a tattoo. I laughed. [female, age 19, 5 years SIB, AA degree]

I was taken into a clinic one time, and the doctors were extremely rude. This one grabbed me by the arm and started asking me what all the symbols I had carved into myself meant. Then he started lecturing me. [female, age 19, 3 years SIB, college sophomore]

Yes, [I've been treated by] 3 doctors [and received] anger, indifference, lack of compassion; some treated me as if I were a nut case. [unspecified]

I had seven stitches put in my wrist. The nurse who took out the stitches was very kind until she saw where the cut was and all the scars around it. After that she was very terse and impersonal. [male, 21, 6 years of SIB, B.A.]

The doctor was very angry and stitched my wrist with no anesthesia. It was like he wanted to teach me a lesson, but instead he taught me that I could withstand even more pain than I thought. I stared him in the face and refused to flinch. [female, 32, 24 years of SIB, 2 years of college]

Yeah, drs have looked at me as if I'm a freak. My extherapist did not get it, she said I should just stop. [female, age 31, 23 yrs SIB, college dropout]

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