RussellSue
Not Active
I know that when I did self-injure, I did not go to the hospital 99% of the time. It was a coping mechanism and not a suicide attempt. And given that you have a job, maybe you want to choose your own vacation dates. You certainly are within your rights to do that.
But when other people hear about self-harm, they do tend to think it is the same as a suicide attempt and see it as an immediate emergency, even therapists. And too often, it is. No one wants to be the person who failed another human being by ignoring the signs that suicide was imminent. Your therapist certainly sounds persistent but if he is new, this may look like a huge emergency and less like a maladaptive coping strategy. It sounds like he probably has a fair amount of anxiety over it or he would have left you alone.
I am sorry that your therapist triggered you and proceeded to ruin your evening. Hopefully he will back off and you can focus on things other than why you have the difficulties that you do. You obviously have a lot going for you with a job and a moderator position here. It's not all about what is "wrong" with you. I agree that his wording was insensitive but that is not a reflection on you as it is on him.
Please be safe. I do hope you can swap ought coping mechanisms soon but we all have maladaptive coping stategies of different types and feeling ashamed and pushed is certainly not going to help that happen since it just adds to the stress you were already having.
I hope you have a better day.
But when other people hear about self-harm, they do tend to think it is the same as a suicide attempt and see it as an immediate emergency, even therapists. And too often, it is. No one wants to be the person who failed another human being by ignoring the signs that suicide was imminent. Your therapist certainly sounds persistent but if he is new, this may look like a huge emergency and less like a maladaptive coping strategy. It sounds like he probably has a fair amount of anxiety over it or he would have left you alone.
I am sorry that your therapist triggered you and proceeded to ruin your evening. Hopefully he will back off and you can focus on things other than why you have the difficulties that you do. You obviously have a lot going for you with a job and a moderator position here. It's not all about what is "wrong" with you. I agree that his wording was insensitive but that is not a reflection on you as it is on him.
Please be safe. I do hope you can swap ought coping mechanisms soon but we all have maladaptive coping stategies of different types and feeling ashamed and pushed is certainly not going to help that happen since it just adds to the stress you were already having.
I hope you have a better day.