Would you judge self harm scars?

Good stuff and good for you. As you say, you can't control what other people do, but you absolutely can choose to ignore them!

That's really good to hear; I'm so glad it went OK and you enjoyed yourself. I think you're a very brave person. The world is a better place because you are alive in it. xx

I might be concerned about someone with new self harm marks as I'd worry they weren't in a good place.
But I have a few old ones as well so def wouldn't judge!

I wouldn’t do it in that moment while they’re looking at someone.

I wouldn't judge...I know a few people with them, a couple of them have had tattoos put over to disguise.

My 16 year old has self harm scars and isn't worried about them being on view. She's the bravest person I know.

Empathy and admiration. We all have issues at times.
xx

I wouldn’t judge, I’d be sympathetic that you felt like that at some point and happy you are better. Who cares what other people think and if they judge you, they are arse holes

God no who would judge! If I saw your scars, I would think how amazing you are to have survived an horrific battle with MH!

OP - Have you thought about getting a tattoo for your scars? I did and it was the best thing I did.

Lie to them in other words… how do you want them to find out about difficult issues like self-harming if not from you? Because they will see plenty in life that they find confusing or even potentially upsetting.

I'd notice but I wouldn't say anything and I wouldn't judge, I too have self harm scars but you wouldn't really notice unless you was inches from my arms, most of mine have been covered by tattoos well the worst ones have. I still go out in tees and tank tops

Someone with old scars is somehow less stable or safe? Wow.
Another one who has no clue.

Someone upthread said she was treated by an A&E nurse with self harm scars. Luckily her employer was not so misinformed and judgemental.

I have a lot of self harm scars so I wouldn't judge. I'd notice though.

Mine are 90% upper arms and upper legs so easier to hide than yours but I do avoud short sleeves at work because I'm a teacher. I don't think there's anyyhomg wrong with children knowing about mental health problems but I do think it should be within a parent's control what they see and that it's less than ideal to see it in a teacher. Esp as I teach 8-13 year olds so a very vulnerable age group for that.

It's interesting that so many people would think you'd obviously been through a very tough time in your life. I wouldn't at all. I'd think you might have done but equally, thousands of middle class girls in the 90s and 00s dealt with the normal growing up process with eating disorders and self harm. It was almost 'popular'. I had both things quite severely for years but no trauma to explain it. I definitely wouldn't assume any awful background.

I wouldn't think anything other than noting them. A good friend of mine has them. I have never asked her about them. It's up to her when she feels able to share. Or not.

You seriously wouldn't let someone look after your kids who had self harmed at somepoint in their life.

Good grief, I would simply say that the person must have had some injuries, and it’s rude to stare.

My cousin has a long surgical scar right up her arm due to a bone graft. She’s had adult strangers ask her about it!

In other words, you'd only want to be an acquaintance not a friend.

I absolutely wouldn't judge I've got lots of scars on my arms from childhood and teens, nobody knows other than my immediate family and close freinds and ex partners, but I do fear being judged so after all these years I still go out in long sleeves even in this heat.

I’m so sorry OP, but some people will judge.
Personally I’d probably wear long sleeves unless I was with family or trusted friends or else it was people I’d never see again.
You sound braver than me though, hope all goes well.

That's it though, it's not been to your face.
In all honestly, in the area you describe, I wouldn't expect it to be.

Conversely, in rougher areas, you might get people being more upfront but ultimately more sympathetic.

Though if you only want superficial interactions with certain people then them saying nothing may be enough.

No judgement on that.

Depends what you mean by judge. I would assume that they were someone who had mental health issues at some point. Which is not untrue. I wouldn’t blame them for that - not their fault.

I would assume they were less stable / safe than someone without them and I wouldn’t want them babysitting my kids necessarily. Wouldn’t care out and about though because it isn’t my business what another person has been through.

I would feel sorry for you at clearly having gone through a hard time at some stage in your life, and definitely not judge.

If it was me I would probably buy a really light weight fine type of material blouse or top that has long sleeves and is quite loose fitting.

I actually have a top like this with balloon type sleeves and it looks fine in the summer.

That comes across harsher than I meant it to be.
Thing is OP people move to certain places because they're really, really 'naice' and while I don't see anything wrong with that at all- who wants to live in a crime-ridden shit hole? - there is a tendency not to want to be openly confronted with certain issues in such places when at events etc.

Look it would be great if it wasn't like that but it is what it is.