Have you told your parents you self-harm?

[Rowan]

If you have, what did they say or do?...And should I tell my parents? :confused:

[Desuetude]

I didn't actually tell mine. I was stupid and left bloody tissues in the bin and my mum found the place I hid the knives (which I used at the time). My experience with it was horrible but seeing as it was completely out of the blue it probably made it worse. Since my parents are divorced my mum came and talked to me first basically blackmailing me to stop and then when I saw my dad he told me to give him the knives and I had to promise I'd stop, not that I did. My mum also tried to pull up my trousers to see the scars and shit, it was one of the most cringey things I've been through.

Telling your parents could either go really well or badly. It depends, do you have a good relationship with them? If so then I suggest sitting them down, maybe printing out some information on self harm and why people do it might get them to understand what you're feeling a little more. I'm sure if you handle it maturely you'll get through it. The thing that most people are scared of is how their parents will react so just be cautious of that if you do decide to confide in them.

[Elysium]

No, I haven't told them, and personally, I never will.

[britishboy]

I don't self harm but I can understand this and YES YOU SHOULD IT WILL HELP ALOT!

[Rayquaza]

Pfft no, it's not their business. Besides, even if they did they wouldn't care, they would probably say I'm just stupid. Perhaps if they didn't do that I wouldn't have self harmed in the first place.

[FantaSauce]

I never told my parents but they ended up finding out i forget how, they were really supportive but i found it quite hard that they knew and it didn't really help me.
However i feel if you really want to quit it then you should tell them as they will want to help you. They are your parents and unless they are bad parents don't want to see their child hurting.
It's all about how you would feel about them knowing.

[Fiction]

My parents found out when I was admitted to hospital after overdosing. It was awful, but it's difficult to know what the real reaction was too, the overdose or the self-harm, or both. My mum cried a lot. My dad shouted at me. After that my dad never mentioned it again, but my mum used to get out of bed and check on me if she so much as heard me go to the toilet in the night, or if I nipped downstairs for anything. It was absolutely horrible. She also asked to check my cuts once to check they weren't deep. I'm still paranoid about going downstairs in the night in case I cause some kind of reaction and it's been 2 years and 3 months since she found out. (Although saying that my last hospital admission was only 1 year and 4 months ago but still)

I suppose the good thing that has come out of it is that now i've stopped, when we go away in the summer I suppose it's going to be marginally easier to wear a bikini and show my scars, because she knows it's something i've done.

[FullyAlive]

My mum found out once and cried made me promise to stop etc, then she found out i was continuing and whilst it was horrible at the time she helped me get help and i think her knowing (even though we don't under any circumstances discuss it) has helped us get our close relationship back we are amazingly close and if she didn't know we wouldn't be. I think she also helped me stop in a way i saw what it did to her and hated it i never want her to be hurt that much by me again, and now i have perspective i'm happy she knew.

[APhkinPanda]

I personally told my mom, well I had a different scenario; since my mom already knew about my depression for about 3 months I told her then showed her. Though, personally I think it was a bad idea at first but then it kinda worked out. Slowly at first then my mom accepted it. She knew I was going through a lot. With my two trauma experiences she quickly understood why I was doing it. But I suggest to think about it. Make sure you are certain. Face the fact that your mom is most likely going to go through the "mother phase" ( she will eye you like a hawk ) then hopefully things will settle down with times.

[Cicero]

If I were to start cutting (which is on my mind whenever I feel emotional pain), I already know what would happen. My mom would put me in the mental hospital and my dad would make my life suck.

I have cut once, my mom found out, I didn't do a good job hiding it. But she cried, then she was on me about it. Honestly, I would've probably had a better experience with cutting if she didnt find out.

My dad would probably make me feel crappy if I were to cut, and he would take so much stuff away from me.

[The Awkward Artist]

I actually only told my parents this week. I feel much better now that they know, because they can help me. My dad was more reserved and accepting, and my mom got angry. Even though you might not like their initial reactions, they love you, and will help you through this.

I'm glad I told my parents. I feel much less guilty, and that I can be more honest with them. I think ou should definitely tell you parents about it. It'll be rough at first but things will iron out. Let me know how things go

[xXl0sth0peXx]

My doctor told mine, without my permission. It was a big mess lol. whops.

but yeah my dad wasn't really around and heard from my mom, and my mom was pissed and angry and screamed and went crazy. now it's just never talked about, and they've never seen anything. Doesn't bug me I guess anymore. I thought they were staring all the time in the beginning but I got over it. It's the past I guess.

[Silent Tears]

My Dad found out, and flipped shit. He got furious, made me stop, expressed many times his appointment, grounded me,and did random checks to make sure I wasn't still cutting. Didn't even try to help me with it. All I had was myself. I wish he had never found out.

[Venrai]

No. If/When they find out, it's honestly the most embarrassing thing ever. Mine found out because I went full idiot and bled on a shirt I was wearing at the time. My dad called me a "attention seeking faggot" so there's that to look forward to.

It honestly depends on your parents. If yours are the supportive type, then by all means tell them. If not, I'd try to get help from someone besides them.

[germangirl]

I never had a good relationship with none of my parents but yes, i told them about it. It wasn't my idea, though. A year ago I decided that I need help, that's why I commited my cutting to a teacher who convinced me to tell my parents about the problem. The conversation was awful. My teacher did all the talking. My mother cried and blamed me for not telling her earlier. My dad never metioned it again, he can't understand why I did that to myself. I'm sure now it was the right decision, because it doesn't matter how awkward it was to tell them the truth, the only important thing is that I got help after it (therapy)..

[bluebird_11]

My mother discovered about my self-harm because the friend I confided in thought it would be the best thing for me to tell her. It's been both good and bad.

Now, I don't have to make up excuses to wear long-sleeved tops. But the day it happened was the most awful day of my life. For two weeks after, she couldn't look me in the eye, and still now, she can't really without looking a bit sad.

It's gotten better over time, and I think you should make the decision based on how you think your parents will react.

Good luck!

[Ahoyo]

My parents found my stache and kind of murdered me? Forced me to sleep on the couch, even once made me take my clothes off, everything except my bra and underwear, They are still extremely invasive. My parents hated me before that though so it's really not different now. More self harm jokes though.

I say if you are prepared to stop then tell them, or if you are close to each other.

[willrob]

i've only done it twice but i would never tell my parents. they would freak out

[ChiitheBerry]

I never told my parents but one of my friends did. It's been a few years since that happened. When they found out the both just yelled at me and forgot it happened. I do it still every once in a while but normally just out of boredom now more than anything.

[Fanta_Lover44]

Well the thing is my parents should now about it, but they are going through major stress right now and i can never find the right time anymore to talk to them, you should tell your parents as they can help you! :D

[steellord321]

Since they're partly responsible for why i get like that, telling them won't do any good. If it could be of some help, i would say they have a right to know.

[Unique Physique]

I didn't tell my parents when I used to self-harm, but my mum found out when I was 16 and she asked me to try on a sleeveless top she bought me. The gashes were so obviously self-harm, so yeah that was awkward.

[MagentaW]

Heck no, and I never will. It may be different for you, because everybody has a different kind of parents but for me that would be a shit idea. They would bring it up continuously, and use it as a way to say I can't handle things.

If you feel your parents might understand, then go for it but I suggest having a long think about it first :/