How did your parents find out and how did they react?

[Fiction]

I'm really curious to see the reactions of other parents, cause I know my parents didn't react well but I wanted to see if that's all parents.

My parents found out when I overdosed and had to go to hospital. My mum kept asking me why over and over again, and my dad shouted at me. At the hospital my mum just sat there crying, and then avoided me as much as possible. My dad decided to be nice about it, even making jokes. When we got home my mum tried to talk about it with me and got all emotional. Shouting at me again. Telling me to move out. She calmed down though and now they don't even mention it and pretend it doesn't happen :)

What about everyone else?

[Magenta]

I told my dad by accident while in a fight with him. Then CAS bothered my family so I wasn't allowed anything sharp near me, I was banned from babysitting and father dearest strip-searched me when I had my period and he thought I was cutting while my entire family listened and ignored me screaming for him to stop touching me.

My mother saw when I was in the hospital the second time but I think my dad told her.

[Charleigh]

The first time she ever found out I first started harming, I had fucked all my arm. I was wearing a long sleeved shirt, but the blood was sort of on my hand. I was in the kitchen and reached over for my jacket, she grabbed my arm really tight and squeesed it, blood came up. "You dirty emo cunt, your not mine" she said and she pushed me out of the way and told me to "Go back to playing with your razors".

Then, about 7 or 8 months later I cut really deep. She called me downstairs, my arms was literally just flowing, she saw it. She looked up at me, spat in my face went up stairs and got the scissors, came down and shuved it near my face, then threw them. She rushed me to hospital, told them she didnt want me and I wasnt hers, couple days later, psch ward, she visited and called me a tramp, fucking slut, bitch, you name it.

Then whenever I would cut, she would hit the cuts and make them hurt.
Then about an hour later she would apoligize, send me to my room and the next time I would cut would be the same episode over and over again. But I dont live with her anymore so it doesnt matter lol.

[kidkizzet]

I had to go into a hospital for like this checkup thing and they made me take my jacket off and I was wearing a short sleeved shirt, mum saw a load of cuts on my arm. When we got home she asked me why, I lied and said I'd only cut the once because I was stressed about school, mum was convinced it was a fashion thing though. I said it didn't help and that I had only cut the once and that I'd never cut again. She believed me.

Six months later I was sitting down and mum saw a cut on my ankle, I don't know how. She made me take my sock off, she saw a few cuts and asked why and for how long. I said just once because it was Christmas and there was a lot of tension and I was really stressed with family shit. She believed me, I promised I'd never cut again because it didn't help and shit like that.

So mum thinks I've only ever cut twice and that I'm a happy teenager. She will never know the real story, she will never know how long it's gone on for or the extent of it. And she won't ever know anything about me or how I feel, she doesn't need to. Oh and my dad doesn't know a thing. Parents just think I'm a happy teenager, they know nothing about me at all.

[Triceratops]

I was about 11 or 12 and my dad saw deep cuts on my wrist and asked me about them. I told him that I accidently injured myself on a fence and it seemed as if he was just going along with it. A few weeks later my mum caught me literally slicing into my upper arms and freaked out. She look terrified. I did what I could to cover up my self-harming, but I obviously wasn't good enough back then haha. These days I feel as if I can hide anything and everything.

The first time she ever found out I first started harming, I had fucked all my arm. I was wearing a long sleeved shirt, but the blood was sort of on my hand. I was in the kitchen and reached over for my jacket, she grabbed my arm really tight and squeesed it, blood came up. "You dirty emo cunt, your not mine" she said and she pushed me out of the way and told me to "Go back to playing with your razors".

Then, about 7 or 8 months later I cut really deep. She called me downstairs, my arms was literally just flowing, she saw it. She looked up at me, spat in my face went up stairs and got the scissors, came down and shuved it near my face, then threw them. She rushed me to hospital, told them she didnt want me and I wasnt hers, couple days later, psch ward, she visited and called me a tramp, fucking slut, bitch, you name it.

Then whenever I would cut, she would hit the cuts and make them hurt.
Then about an hour later she would apoligize, send me to my room and the next time I would cut would be the same episode over and over again. But I dont live with her anymore so it doesnt matter lol.

All this and you're only just 13? Blimey.

[MadManWithaBox]

Well I had a few, when I was 11, and on the night my dad stabbed me, and I was on the ground trying to clean it up like he asked, and he started kicking the shit out of me and saying I was a freak doing that to myself and I deserved everything he did to me. Then he went out. My mum didn't find out till I was 13, on my first psych ward visit(to an actual hospital, not here)

[FullyAlive]

I didn't tell my parents. My friends had suspicions although they'd never voiced them but when my uncle died they were worried so they told a teacher. Who told the assistant head. She confronted me about it at first I lied but she said my refusal to take off my blazer was basically admittance. She then phoned my mum.

My mother said that we'd keep it between us as it was a 'female thing' (shows how much she knows) at first she was constantly watching me and wouldn't let me be alone. It was horrible she wouldn't let me go out or anything. After a few days she calmed down and kept wanting to talk. She just assumed she knew why I did it she didn't. Eventually I convinced her I was ok, didn't need to talk and no longer cut. After that she checked my wrists and arms a few times but never bought it up again. She thinks I've stopped but I do it more than ever just in other places. I never told her it was an addiction I can't just stop, I can't just switch the feelings off.

Sometimes I think about letting her see again just so I can get help. But I'm never serious about it i would hate it if she knew the truth, how I really feel.

[Love.Hate]

I didn't tell my mum, and if i had my way she wouldn't even know now.

Basically my sister saw my arm in about september, i told her i would never do it again and it was a "one off". But late november she saw my arm again.. Even worse than the first time. We argued and she went and told mum to be spiteful.

Mum didn't say much.. She was silent for a while. Then she just kept asking questions all the time, checking up on me.. now she just has heart to hearts like everyday. She feels like a bad mother and like she has failed me, which makes me feel guilty.. :/

Dad still has no idea up to this day.

[Syvelocin]

The FIRST TIME I ever took a blade to my arm (at the time, I used scissors) I covered them after they stopped bleeding with an armwarmer. I went downstairs while my stepdad was in another room, but my stepdad ended up coming in soon after, saw my arm warmer and jumped to conclusions. He called my mum who was visiting her parents and told her about it, then when she got home she asked me to show her my arm. Yep.

Reaction-wise, it wasn't that bad. But I remember it being really hard on myself personally, because they went through the whole "Oh god, my child is unhappy. I've failed as a parent," thing. Though they did blame it on some of my friends as well, which was incorrect, saying that they gave me the idea when in reality it was just something in the back of my head I wanted to try. My parents made me promise to go back to therapy, and after a few more months of that, my mum made the appointment to get me evaluated for hospitalization.

It's really fun for your self-harm to be a family problem from the start. /sarcasm

[Kaius]

Idk theres a lot leading up to it. First suicide attempt was trying to cut my wrists in the shower when i was 14. I hadn't started cutting at this time though. It was when i got home i started to realize that i didn't have to cut my wrists to get a release, idk could be anywhere. Thats where i started. Second was a month or two later after the death of someone extremely close to me, i had a fairly serious overdose and was taken to hospital, i had the top half of my clothing removed and it was pretty damn obvious what I had been doing. Because of the seriousness of the overdose and the severity I was sectioned for two weeks on the grounds of being a danger to myself and potentially other people. When i got home they were extremely sensitive about the topic, they took anything i could potentially harm myself with and locked them away. I was able to finally stop cutting in July of that year (2007) until September 2009. I slowly earned my parents trust back but it didn't ever reach the point it was before, Every so often they'd look through my room for anything like razors, knives tablets that should've have been there. It was about a month after i started again when i tried to overdose again, I waited until everyone had gone to bed and took anything i could really get my hands on. They found out roughly the same way this time but Instead of killing myself, or coming out unharmed again I'd actually done some damage to my heart and needed an operation. Ever since I've had to have fortnightly-monthly ECG's so its harder for me to do it without anyone finding out. I managed to stop again though with some help, but it didn't last long and i fell back into old habits and just haven't stopped yet. I know they don't trust me now, I have all my medication sorted out for me so i dont need access to the medicine cabinet, my food is literally cut up for me so i have no reason to use knives. When i shave one of my parents sits just inside the door and waits, then when im finished takes the razors and puts them away as well. I wouldn't say they were angry at first, more like.. disappointed. They didn't really act like they understood which i don't think helped. Idk i don't really think there is a "normal" reaction to seeing your child do that to themselves tbh.

[HeroesAndCons]

Told my mom she thought it was a phase
told my dad he went batshit

[Ambrosia]

My parents have never actually found out but my sister did. We were sitting on the couch in the summer and the light hit the scars on my wrist. She asked me what was on my arm and then stopped herself because I guess she realized. Later on she took me on the backporch and tried to "talk" with me. She told me she knew exactly what it was and lectured me all about the dangers and how she had a friend who used to do it. I claimed it was the first and only time I had ever done it (EVen though I had been doing it for over a year). And she believed me.

Too bad I've been doing it for over four years now.

[Charleigh]

All this and you're only just 13? Blimey.

Happened when I was 10 but carried on up untill now :')

[Njathind]

My parents found out when the paramedic rolled my sleeve up to take my blood pressure in the back of the ambulance, all I remeber thinking is oh shit this is it, my mum knows. She was already in tears from finding out that I had Overdosed, then she just broke down.

My dad found out the next day when he visited me in Intensive Care and saw me laying there with all the tubes in my arms.

I'm no longer trusted to be alone, have the "is he still alive" check every half hour :D

[lengthy_brochure]

Mine havent found out yet. Judging how they took it when I made suicide attempts, they won't take it well.

[UnknownError]

When my dad nearly found out he was like "WTF?" and dead shocked. But since he only saw small ones on my hand he believed the cat excuse. :P
Mum doesn't know anything.

[cooper-cutter]

I started cutting around the same time that I finally came out.
It was in final year, I was the school captain, predicted dux blah blah blah.
My parents are wonderful, but I guess they aren't as educated about mental health as people are now.

They thought it was some phase, a cry for attention, a selfish act to hurt others and make people feel sorry for me.

I don't know what it was, but they never understood, they still don't.

[Nevermore]

They found out after seeing cuts and scars on my arm from scissors and scrapes. It was bad they screamed, mom went to an emo seminare because she thought i was trying to be emo. After that it was ignored until 2 years ago when we tried to get counseling, now I'm seeing a psycologist and psychiatrist. They still make fun of me, and yell at me, and cry about it. I'm sorry I'm such a disappointment.

[xgeekyrocksx]

my mum found out, and the first tme she was shouted, made me delete my computer account, grounded me, told my dad (who didn't believe her) and things like that.
the second time she went mad, screamed at me, hit me, cied, didn't talk to me, kept bringing it up. now wheneve we fight-thats all she talks about. my dad saw, says i was a div and stupid and should ******* stop. and cried.

[insanity]

it happend cause I had a bad day at school and my friend saw me heading to the bathroom with sissors and of course she went crazy and cryed and yelled at me, so I didnt end up cutting. But then we stopped speaking to eachother.

that afternoon her mum rang and spoke to my mum on the phone, then came the whole private talk and all the crying and yelling and shit. At first my mum was angry, then she got all hopeless and started crying and saying it was her fault and saying she was such a bad parent because I couldnt talk to her about it and saying she was so embarresed that my friends mum had told her.

then came the long lists of counslars, and all the awkard questions about how, and why, and how often and blahd blady blah.

I have to say that was the worst day of my life.

[whereismymind]

I told my mum first over the phone and she said she had to go after I told her. She sounded like she was gonna cry and she probably did. I used a blunt knife because I wasn't able to buy a sharp one or sneak a kitchen knife into my room and so the scars I had were all reasonably light but I was scared my dad would see some, so I told him and he didn't really show any emotion to it, he just told me to stop. I see I got lucky with their reactions though so sorry to everyone who's parents reacted badly.

I hope things have worked out with everyone's parents though..

[YesterdaysNews]

My mom found out after a soccer game. I'd put foundation to cover them because I had to wear short sleeves but by the time the game was over she saw. The look on her face was a mix of disgust and horror. We were in walmart at the check out and then when we got to the car she started to yell questions at me. "why would you hurt yourself?" etc. And then we talked about shit at home. She made me promise I wouldn't do it again.
She saw again a few months later and threatened to take me to a therapist.
Then when she found out about my "boyfriend" and online friends, I overdosed, But that took her days to realize and she did that by reading my texts. And thats when she took me to the hospital and what not.
Mind you, she found out first in August 2009, and didn't take "action" until March 2010. She was in denial. lol.
Now I think she thinks I've stopped.

[enjoying_my_insanity]

my friends knew cuz i couldnt keep it bottled up they told the school school told my parents hospital trip therapy meds etc. i denied hurting myself said i was just depressed then a guy in my gym class saw the scratches and prob saw me scratching my arm in gym and told the principal who called my mom i denied it again went back to my therapist etc. they were upset/disappointed that i was depressed and wanted to hurt/kill myself and others :( not fun they rarely bring it up now

[icanbarelybreathe]

My mom basically forced me to take off my jeans, because I started on my legs. And she had found my razor. She told me if she ever found out again, she'd sent me to a mental institution. It's been three years. I've done my arms and my stomach, and continued my legs since then, and she's seen all the scars. She just ignores it. She doesn't care. She never has.

[Doc. Crane .-.]

My mom saw the cuts on my arms when i wasnt wearing a shirt, (im comfortable wihout shirts), i had to lie a for awhile, but i cut my self with some sharp plastic and the lying had to be stopped, i told her i cut myself, she asked why, i had to do one of my impulse lying, and said, "i was bored." she believed me, the real reason i cut myself, is cause i either have nothing to do, or i like the taste of blood, she hasnt mentioned it to anyone as far as i know, but i think she is gonna do something to me, (psych ward) right now im keeping any "unusual behavior" down to a minimum for awhile, she knows i have ADHD, so i guess im in the clear, (or at least i hope to god)

[LoveMe_HateMe]

My parents don't know. Thank god. I probably wont be able to handle all the questions and disappointing looks etc. Only a hand full of people know and my best friend keeps an eye on me. My mum's seen some of my previous cuts but I just bluffed my way out of it saying that it was one of the cats or I walked into something or did it while cooking etc. I don't think she suspects anything. Then again, they don't really see me, when they do... I'm always acting...

[xXsweet.slashesXx]

My mom found out when I didnt have enough bracelets on and my wristband was up too high. She asked what they were and when I told her she went crazy. She then followed to tell my dad, who's very protective, and he went absolutely nuts. He blamed it on my friends. My mother then took rubbing alcohol and poured it over my fresh cuts to kill infection. That BURNED, and my arm started to sizzle. I was then sat down and yelled at and talked to my mom for about 2 hours. My dad started yelling and threatened to put me in a mental hospital. After that day, things were pretty calm. We don't talk about it anymore

[pinaychiq001]

I'm curious about that cutting issue.

Hmm ..

Wanna try cutting yet i believe that it will not solve any problem of mine .. :)

[RAWWR]

Seriously. Don't.
When my mum found out she screamed, cried, pushed me onto the sofa, restrained me by sitting on me and wouldn't let me up until I told her why. It was awful. Luckily now she is a lot more understanding and I can self harm and buy blades and bandages without her panicking, she pretty much just leaves me to it unless I need medical attention, she knows I see a therapist and have it under control, so she just backs off, which is just the way I like it :)

[LoveMe_HateMe]

I'm curious about that cutting issue.

Hmm ..

Wanna try cutting yet i believe that it will not solve any problem of mine .. :)

Don't ever start. Don't even just "try" it. Its not worth it in the long run. I thought that oh yeah one tiny cut wont do any harm.. that was roughly two years ago and now I struggle to get through a day without doing it, can't even go an hour without thinking about it. Its a constant battle, one I strong urge you not to start. Please. There's other ways of sorting things out. This isn't it.

[Flower_Girl]

I told them (I'm a bad liar) and my dad screamed at me calling me a freak.

[lengthy_brochure]

My parents found out two days ago. It was getting to be a problem and it was self-harm awareness day, so I was like whatever. I told my school counselor, knowing that she would have to call my parents. I had her call my mom, because I know my dad wouldn't take it well. She put it on speakerphone and my mom was very calm and accepting.

Overall, it went much better than I thought it would.

[Doc. Crane .-.]

Update: I was in line waiting to dive, and my mom came over, she saw the cuts asked, and I lied, after the practice, she asked me about it, I just said "I don't know" so she said she will get me a counselor. But it's been about three days and nothing, so I guess I'm home free.

[Hatsune Miku]

Mom found a picture on my phone. I took it to show a friend, he said if I ever did anything he wanted to see if it was bad. She went ape shit. Didn't really make me feel better.

[Kaya]

I remember it well...I was having a really bad day and I was so frustrated and angry at everything. and my mom was on the computer, ignoring me while I was trying to tell her that I couldn't go to school that day because I was close to breaking down. She started yelling at me and I pulled up my sleeve and I started crying and I just told her "this is why I can't go to school today" and she gave me one of those mother death glares (lol) and she took me downstairs and made me show my grandma. While I was showing her I just kept crying and repeated "I'm sorry I'm sorry" then..they asked me why I did it and I started crying more. So they said I could stay home for a day or two. My sister heard this and started screaming "just because she cuts herself doesn't mean she gets to stay home" blah blah, more bitching. and in the end I had to go to school anyways. Life sure would be heck of a lot easier if I never told them. Now if they see any marks on me they think I've done it myself. That's why I can't tell them anymore....I hate seeing them upset with me :/

[dreamland]

My dad found out first. I told him it was the cat and then he made me promise that I was telling the truth. I promised. He bought it.

My mom found out when when I was taking pictures of myself. She asked " Why are you doing that?" I just told her that it was nothing. When she didn't stop I scowled at her, that's when she stop asking lol.

[Syvelocin]

Please do not bump old threads :locked: