What do I say to people that ask about my scars without making them uncomfortable?

The ideal is for you to feel comfortable in yourself to either be open and honest that you've overcome some hurdles and trauma in your life, or tell them it's not something you wish to discuss, but thank you for asking. Either way, you don't have to make yourself feel uncomfortable and pressured to tell someone if you're not sure - especially if you're not sure you can trust them. If you're confident in the way you deal with this question, then they're less likely to feel uncomfortable.

Say, “These are my battle scars, it shows that I went through hell, and made it back alive.”

I know how hard this is by experience, and especially if they are not healed yet. If they are scars always remember to say "i'm stronger now" or "i have learned how to cope now". You can always say, "i was going through a really rough time and i was not sure how to cope, but i'm better now". If that's the case, you are not lying to them and you are saying something that's beneficial to the both of you. Side note, scars show your strength!!

you can say that you where going through a hard time and now you are doing better and that they where a part of you life that you struggled with

You can say that they were a way of coping when you were going through a particularly hard time, and that looking at them is a reminder of how far you’ve come since then

They are always going to feel uncomfortable. Well not necessarily uncomfortable but worried. Just say whatever you are comfortable sharing.

Well, it depends on the situation and how much you trust the person asking you about your scars. If you're in a public place where you can be easily heard by strangers around you, you can simply say that an accident occurred. If you don't quite trust the person with telling them about what really happened or you are in an environment that makes you feel uncomfortable, you can express your discomfort and that you would prefer discussing it another time. If you are in a private area where no one else can hear you, and you really trust the person, you can ask them if they feel comfortable discussing self-harm issues before you proceed.

Tell them the truth. There is no reason to feel embarrassed. Your struggle is something personal and it might seem scary to talk about it. However, if people ask they are either curious or they really care about you and want to know if you're okay. If they ask, tell them that about your struggle, don't go into details if you think they would feel uncomfortable. You can say that everyone goes through some tough things in life and they are individual and intimate. Remember you always have the right not to answer.

Don't give them a questionable answer. Answer truthfully then I bet they'll understand. That what I had to do.

Just say that it is something that's happened in the past, and that you're getting help. This will calm the situation.

I say that are visible marks of what I went through and a reminder for me that there’s always a way to survive

You don't necessarily have to tell them what caused them/how you got them. You could just tell them you wouldn't want to talk about it, or you could be honest if you trust them!

It was a time in my life where I thought that self harming was the only thing that made me feel better I was wrong

If they start talking about them or point them out just said “can we not talk about this right now?” Or “I don’t really like talking about it” be confident in your words so that they’ll leave you alone

I like to say that they’re battle scars. But the battle was a government secret! It gives people a giggle and makes things a lot less awkward! If they insist, keep up the story!

I think honesty is key in this type of situation. Within your own comfort zone with this topic, I think telling someone right out is good. It prevents any misunderstandings and provides a channel for deeper or more in depth discussions on this topic in the future.

Say I have scars to remind me of the times of hardships and how I have overcome them. If they ask further on, simply say that scars are in the past for a reason.

You can just say that they are scars. If you trust that person fully, you can tell them the reason why you have the scars, but it completely up to you. You do not owe anyone the answer to why you got the scars if you feel like it may make you or them uncomfortable.

you really owe no one an explanation of anything on your body ever. unless you're comfortable sharing. if they're a human being worth knowing your truths, full of empathy, you wouldn't have to worry about them being uncomfortable. sometimes i put my past in simple terms for people with something along the lines of "at one point i struggled very hard with my mental health" etc etc. but understand you never need to tell anyone anything, its been a personal journey only you have experienced yourself in your own skin. forget judgement, everyone has a vice or a poor coping mechanism at some point in time. as long as they remain scars and not open wounds sometimes thats all that matters to me, personally :)

Tell them the truth to why you have those scars, that's what i do and most times, people will support you after they've found out. if you get asked by a little child like i sometimes do just say you hurt yourself in an accident, they won't understand until they grow up so it's best you don't tell children the truth (you shouldn't or they'll probably tell their parents and that would cause a lot of trouble for you if their parents knew you, they wouldn't want their child knowing about self harm at the age of 5 or something) best case scenario: don't say anything, shrug.

Tell them honestly why you don't want it to discuss or share. Think about your good first, it would eventually be good for others as well. Those who care would understand and those who don't, you don't need to worry either. Example, usually its because you are not comfortable to discuss about it so tell them truth that you are not comfortable. Truth is truth even if its bitter. Scratching the scars only wound it more. You don't need to show it to every person. The ones who really care and understand would find it without being told and would try to heal it and not scratch it.

You can tell people, that you have been through some tough times in life and that you have come out stronger on the other side. Some have a tendency to shy away, when it comes to hearing about other people's hardship, but if you make a point out of telling them that you are better and that you are strong, then people will most likely feel more comfortable about it - I'm not sure this is true for everyone of course, but I've seen good responses to this before. I think it does a big difference to make it short and concise, and not oversharing too much.

It really depends on how comfortable you are with the person. I have experience with people asking about self-harm scars. If you feel comfortable, or want to do so, you could tell them the truth. You could also tell them that you "went through a rough time". You are also under NO obligation to answer the person. You don't owe them anything. Scars are none of their business, unless you decide that you want to answer. It can be helpful to think up a few 'excuses' for when strangers or acquaintances ask about scars. This could be saying that your scars are stretch marks, or you have an aggressive pet. You are not obligated to give an excuse. You can stay silent. You can tell the truth every time. If the person asking you is a child, then an excuse may be best, as the truth may scare them, and not answering can just lead them to want an answer more. Whatever you decide, self-harm scars are NEVER something that people should shame you for. Scars show how strong you are, for still being here, and fighting your tough times. If anyone decides to judge you for having self-harm scars, then please don't listen to them. They don't undertstand how beautiful you are, and how courageous you must be for showing your scars, which can be terrifying to do. Stick with people who love you for who you are.

Well, to begin, they wouldn't be asking you about it if they're uncomfortable. If someone asks you about your scars, tell them the story of how you get them, how you survived, and how your scars are proof that you're a strong person. That those scars mark the lessons you've learned throughout your life. Don't be ashamed of those scars. Be proud that you've overcome the darkest hours of your life and that you're healed. By doing that, you would become an inspiration for them. A living monument of how mankind can conquer the hardest challenges that the world can give him.

You don't always have to explain to people, Especially fi you think they won't understand. You can simply reply, "I don't want to talk about it". However, someimes this can make people even more curious. You could say, "I was going through a hard time and this was the way I tried to cope with it. I'm doing better now." Or you could take the humorous approach and say, "I was fighting off dragons!" It might give people a hint that you don't feel comfortable talking about it. If you believe the person may understand, you can explain to them why you harmed yourself.

Tell them that it's okay that they asked, and that you've been through a rough patch before. If you're comfortable enough, briefly let them know why (depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorder) but it's okay if you don't want to share that. It can be uncomfortable to talk about your mental health, and it's just as okay to tell them that it was a long time ago and you don't want to talk about it. If they seem understanding, it can be a good opportunity to ask them if they've ever had mental health issues, and turn it into a discussion rather than a confrontation.

When people point, stare at or ask about your self harm scars it’s incredibly scary and daunting to have to explain where they came from. The best way to respond is to simply say “I was dealing with a lot of things in the past but I am better now”. This way it prevents the person from feeling uncomfortable as they can simply acknowledge that you are okay at this present time, and it prevents you making other excuses which are clearly not the truth. Despite all of this, it is completely up to you to respond to their questions about your scars - it’s your body and it’s more important for YOU to not be made uncomfortable by their stares or questions. Stay safe :)

based on my personal experience I always tell people the truth. I tell them that I have experienced a lot of difficulties in my life and I have found a way to overcome them. I also tell them that I am on the road to self harm recovery and that I am actively seeking better coping strategies to better my life. I tell them that I am not ashamed of my scars or burns. that they are a part of my life journey and prove how strong I am and how much I fight to stay alive. I am a warrior.

First I would like to say that having scars doesn’t make you less or more of a person than someone else. It’s easy to overthink it when it’s likely something you see most days. When someone asks about your scars in a serious manner it’s okay to tell them what your comfortable saying. For instance if it’s a friend that knows some background or would like to, you can say that these are from self harm. I had been/am going through a hard time. If it’s someone who isn’t a friend or someone you really don’t want to talk to about these kinds of things, be polite and tell them that. It’s okay to take a stand on either side of the line!

I have a scar myself, I have had it since I was very young from a surgery that I needed. I was never particularly uncomfortable with it, but sometimes people would stare or talk about it. I found that when I spoke about it and what it came from with them, and they could see that I was not uncomfortable, it made them feel a little more comfortable too. They would ask questions and even share their own scars, some physical, some emotional with me. Sometimes just opening up an honest dialogue can make an uncomfortable situation more comfortable for everyone.