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
Wild Nights Out
Last call, bad decisions and 3 a.m. texts you'll regret until noon. Cheers.
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)
lemon666 11
I can see where you would think that she could be hurting herself. I, like OP's coworker, have a lot of cuts and scrapes on my legs from things like falling on old stairs and cutting my leg on an exposed nail, my dog cutting my leg with his demon claws when I try to hold him back and not attacking a person at the door, etc.
graphicstyle7 17
And.. you work with her. I know you meant well, but are you a close friend outside of work? If you're not, you are being very intrusive, even as you try to help. Point is, I'm sure she does not want someone who knows her in a professional sense to know intimate details about her life. I'm guessing she may of lied to you to give herself back some privacy that you barged into. You may of done better by her by mentioning a friend who cut themselves, then told them what she or he did about it, without mentioning her legs or trying to assume things that are embarrassing at any time, much less at work.
Colon_Man 17
I walk with an obvious limp from several surgeries and I get people who jokingly ask if I stubbed my toe. "Yeah. I stubbed it on an IED back in 08."
fishinpink 20
as awkward and funny as this is I would like to personally thank you for having the heart love and guts to do this for someone bc I've spent the last 14 years (half my life) as a cutter and had someone taken the time to notice and reach out to me like this it might have made a huge difference in my life and even where I am at today. God bless you OP
TheNewGuy03 29
The best thing to do is to not assume anything, but if you insist on doing so, at least assume something positive so people don't get pissed.
pandalover69 26
Wow, that's none of your business. If they're scars then why would you even say something? Scars means they've been there a while. Even if they were fresh scratches it's still not ok to be so direct. Just ask if everything is going ok.
GuiltyEren 11
Honestly OP, I know you're trying to be helpful but don't ever point out someone else's scars. You can make them feel seriously horrible, whether you're trying to help or not. Don't make them talk about it. You know that they know and they know that you know. You can just tell them that you're there for them if they ever need you. That's it. Leave it at that.
Isa_fml 20
As someone who self harms I would find this really presumptuous and insulting. Mind your own business. I have a lot of visible scars and it would be nice to be able to just wear shorts when it's hot outside without some jackass commenting on them. It's personal, and unless we're close, I think asking about it or mentioning it is inappropriate.
Bearsmomma 30
Not all people that self harm have close friends to reach out. In fact, I imagine there are MANY that WISH they had someone to show concern or someone to talk to. I agree not everyone feels okay with being approached. But I don't think it's a good idea to skip helping someone that DOES want/need it because some don't want help.
uchihadesendent 14
He pulled her aside and his concern was touching your attitude towards things like this will only cause trouble for others who want to speak about this. Self-righteousness will get you nowhere and as someone that has depression I wouldn't care I would welcome the concern and again he pulled her aside to tell her.
fishinpink 20
hey bearsmomma you I love ya girl and I am THAT person without much of anyone to reach out to about my self harm. not anyone while I was growing up to or sure. and even when I opened up to my parents about it (which just so happened to be bc I got caught stones off my ass and asked if they'd rather me he smoking pot or cutting myself to deal with my depression to which they responded "you're not depressed. you're grounded." lovely. it wasn't until 2007 when I cut a 10 inch long by 1+ inch deep incision into my left arm attempting suicide that I was hospitalized and finally began receiving treatment for my junk. had my ex not call 911 I would have died and I would have been ok with that back then. my scar is still very visible and people ask me about it all the time. and I'm just straight up about it anymore "I tried to kill myselfself and I'm a cutter." but 10 years ago I was ashamed and embarrassed but still would be intentionally careless about others seeing my wounds so maybe someone souls offer me some help...nobody ever did. today I am well medicated and see a therapist and psychiatrist combo and haven't had a cutting episode since February or March this year. that's practically a record for me. OP has a pure and gentle loving heart and I admire that and am grateful for it too.
RosaMaravillosa 10
Hey, that was a nice thing to do. Better safe than sorry right?
Ash_U78 12
Even If she was hurting herself, unless you are also her best friend I don't understand why you would think you were entitled to that information about her. I understand trying to be supportive, but it just pisses me off when people you barely know think that they can ask you about or bring up deeply personal issues. If you want to be supportive, then try being her friend for a while before bringing up something like that. YDI