Today, I noticed quite a few scars on one of my coworker's legs. I pulled her aside and told her that self-harm was never the answer, and if she needed to talk I was always there. Turns out she's just clumsy and trips a lot. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, I tripped over a kid at work. She was sitting on the floor with her legs sticking out into the walkway. Her mom caused a scene, accusing me of doing it on purpose. FML
Today, my overweight colleague twisted his ankle. He's pretty self-conscious about his weight, but I had a brain-fart and told him he shouldn't try to put too much weight on it. His feelings are more hurt than his ankle now. FML
Today, at work, my manager fell in front of an entire lobby full of people on a wet floor. I'm the only one who burst out laughing. Turns out she has a broken arm. FML
Today, I was walking down the street on my way to work, when an old lady's walking stick caught my leg and sent me crashing to the ground. She apologised for the accident and watched me stumble to my feet. I said not to worry. Just as I turned to leave, I could swear a smirk crept over her face. FML
Today, I tripped and fell going up the stairs, not once, but twice at work as I was leading customers through our building. I actually got bruises. FML
Today, at work at a store, I was sitting on the floor stocking a bottom shelf. A woman in a motorized cart did not see me, and ran over my hand. When I alerted her about what she had done she laughed. FML
Today, I was told I needed to start carrying bandaids with me at work because practically every day I hurt myself. FML
Today, I cut my finger deep on an envelope at work and started bleeding profusely. When I asked my co-worker for a band-aid, she told me to get back to work and stop making up excuses to try and hit on her. FML
Today, while I was telling a friend she needs to be more careful about getting hurt, I dislocated and sprained my thumb. She then laughed at me and said, "Yes, I will." FML
Today, a man stopped me on the street. He said the stretch marks on my thighs looked like cuts, and asked me if I self-harmed. Before I was able to politely respond "No", he said, "I mean, I can see why you would." FML
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Top comments
whysobeachy 37
Making assumptions is a stupid thing to do, but then, if she DID inflict self-harm, it's not like she'd admit it that easily.
awesumous 16
Don't let this one awkward misunderstanding stop you in the future. Keep doing this and one day you may save a life. Btw you're a really good person for caring
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Comments (92)
Pandacupcakelove 26
Your heart was in the right place, but jumping to conclusions based on one observation is a bad idea
BodyElectric 18
To be fair, you could be right and she could just be uncomfortable telling you so. But you opened the door for further conversation, so hopefully if she does have a self-harm problem she will feel a bit more comfortable talking to you about it later. In the meantime, don't walk on eggshells around her, just treat her nicely and like everyone else. You have a good heart, OP.
BodyElectric 18
Another thought: it can be really embarrassing when people ask you about your scars or tell you to stop harming (speaking from experience). A better approach might be just to tell her that you're there for her to talk to and that you hope that she doesn't need to injure herself anymore.
Atlas1960 16
It's amazing that you care and offered to help, even if it did become a bit awkward with your co-worker
BabyCakes818 16
Never assume the worst. I'm surprised she didn't smack you upside the head for that. I would have done a Gibbs smack.
uchihadesendent 14
You're the reason why people are hesitating to help with over reactions like you'd have.
NYM88 26
When you assume you make an ASS out of U and ME. Remember that and maybe you'll avoid situations like this again. However, like others have said, you're heart was in the right spot.
LyricaSilvan 30
While I admire the fact that you were trying to help, you probably should have considered asking her if there was something going on before assuming she was cutting herself.
delichick 27
Like other said your heart was in the right place, but it could have been worded differently. Ive got scars on my arm that Ive done, unfortunately my daughter does too, as do a couple other people I know. Ive had a supervisor who had some scars on her arms that looked like they were self inflicted - she told us she was in a serious car accident that nearly cost her her life. Dont be quick to assume scars are self inflicted - if you were quick to judge me like that Id deny them, Ive had people ask, and depending how I felt about you I may (or may not) rell you I was ill. To this day I fight the urge, but dont need the assumption. Hope your coworker eventually may be comfortable opening up IF it is self inflicted, it may be just her being clumsy. God knows Im like that - I almost fell into a deep freezer at work last week lol it happens
TrebleMajor 13
As someone who used to self harm, it actually makes me really uncomfortable when someone points out my scars and then my confidence is gone for the rest of the day
blackwindowsare 6
Its good to be so caring, although, Scars are different from fresh cuts, self harmers often hide scars and cuts, if a self harmer has visible scars they may no longer be harming and to be a recovered self harmer and have something as ashaming as that mentioned can hurt, to have to explain the same thing a million times isn't easy, most recovered self harmers already have a support network and having every new person you meet offer to do the same is very endearing but can also make you feel like a freak. Side note: It is awesome to offer help and support to someone in trouble and this doesn't happen enough for some people.