Health Centre Jumping To Conclusions?

[Cool Cat]

Hey everyone,

I hurt myself out exercising recently. I went to my student health centre because it's free, so makes more sense than going out and buying my own bandages. It's quite normal for us to go to the health centre for very small things.

What I didn't really like is I felt they didn't believe it was an accident. The nurse kept on pressing me asking if it was SH, which I haven't done in months and months. I suppose it would have been good if it had been SH and I was too proud to say. But they kept saying stuff like "Are you sure this is from a fall?" "This looks like a burn" etc etc

 

[digger]

Tricky one. I get why it might annoy you. It would me too I think if it had been me in the situation. But, because of this...

I suppose it would have been good if it had been SH and I was too proud to say.

...I don't think it's an easy one. Someone else might have needed exactly those questions, exactly that many times, to be able to open up and get the help they needed. So part of me reading it is actually pleased to see that they were asking those questions.

I think it's probably hard for those of us with a history of SH to not feel pissed off though when something is accidental and you feel like it's being viewed with suspicion. Was the person asking aware of your history?

 

[Cool Cat]

@digger absolutely, those questions could have been life-saving for the right person. For me, I was a bit embarrassed when I relapsed about going back to the health centre for physical treatment.

Although never was I dishonest about SH, as much as it was difficult, I never have told a lie to the nurse or the doctor about my SH. Maybe like being accused of lying, when I have never lied before?

The person was well-aware of my history, she treated me as much as 2-3 times a week for a month or two last year when I was really bad with it. I guess it makes me feel pissed off because I'm thinking that people won't trust me or accept my word now that I have SH'ed. Like it was a genuine accident, I had absolutely no intention of hurting myself exercising.

 

[mytai]

@Cool Cat as frustrating as that experience might have been, I agree with @digger it's good they asked those questions. Even though SH wasn't the case in this situation, it shows how informed your health centre staff is. They aren't ignoring the possibility of certain injuries being self inflicted, they are giving those who are struggling an easy out by asking - they are giving those who are truly SH'ing an opportunity to reach out without having to outright ask for help.

As someone who has a long past with SH I can understand the frustration of being asked continually. It's nice to see that they didn't make an assumption, they asked. I know it can be hard to see it that way when it is fresh for you, but I see it as them not making an assumption but giving you an opportunity to reach out if you were scared to.

Maybe if it happens again, or you could always go back in to speak with the nurse, you could say "I appreciate your concern about my history of SH, but that is not/was not the case this time."

 

[Cool Cat]

@mytai Yeah I guess, I know it makes perfect sense. I don't get why it annoys me so much. I felt angry to be asked.

 

[digger]

I don't get why it annoys me so much

I think because this...

because I'm thinking that people won't trust me or accept my word now

Which I think it's natural to feel upset about.

I think mytai's suggestion of how to approach it in future is good, something clear like "I understand your concern given my history, but that is not the case." even a "Thanks for asking though." thrown in there. Shows you understand why they're asking but maybe puts you back in control of the way the conversation goes from there.