I’ve Given Myself Self-Inflicted Wounds
By DianneN
@DianneN (246993)
United States
March 23, 2020 10:47pm CST
I’m about to go to sleep now, but am afraid.
Last night for the first time ever I woke up in pain. The inside of my upper arm hurt, but I was too tired to tend to it and fell back asleep. I thought it was bleeding, but tried not to let the blood get on my white comforter.
Sure enough, I woke me up in the morning. Apparently, I used two fingers and clawed myself in my sleep. There was no blood, but raw oozing skin. I washed it and put an antibiotic cream on it. I will survive!
I’m pretty sure it’s due to stress. I’m very concerned about this virus.
I’m going to sleep now, and hopefully I won’t attack myself during the night.
Have you ever heard of such a thing? I may be losing my mind.
43 people like this
44 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
24 Mar 20
Nope. Why stress? its not like we can change it.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118479)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Mar 20
Maybe you had an itch in your sleep, and your subconscious mind thought it was the virus attacking you, so it commanded your fingers to claw away at your skin to get rid of the virus. Maybe your brain was going into self-preservation mode! I sure hope it doesn't happen again when you go to sleep! We might have to put mittens on you like they do for little babies!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118479)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Mar 20
@DianneN Well let's hope it was an isolated incident.
1 person likes this
@Dyvette16 (4301)
• United States
24 Mar 20
Oh no , I have heard of that before
Maybe it would be good to cut your nails , smooth them down or if they wouldn’t bother you try some comfy gloves
I hope you get better sleep today
2 people like this
@DianneN (246993)
• United States
25 Mar 20
@Dyvette16 After hearing what’s going on in New York City, where more than half my family lives, the stress level just shot up.
@Dyvette16 (4301)
• United States
25 Mar 20
@DianneN oh no , now I just hope this stress will go away and things will calm down
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54411)
• United States
24 Mar 20
stress is a funny thing, it dinks us when we aren't looking. sorry that happened.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246993)
• United States
24 Mar 20
@DocAndersen I’m an information hound, but will try to back away.
There is nothing much new to hear these days anyway.
Just gloom and doom.
This morning I wouldn’t allow myself to check on the cases in NY.
Thanks so much.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54411)
• United States
24 Mar 20
@DianneN i wish I had a magic wand that made this go away. It won't are you a information overload, so that it goes away, or a get a way and not hear anything about it type person?
1 person likes this
@happylife1 (13404)
• Karachi, Pakistan
24 Mar 20
so sorry to hear that........take care
3 people like this
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
25 Mar 20
You must have had a very bad dream! I hurt myself in sleep when I was a kid, as I was constantly falling down from the bed.
1 person likes this
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
26 Mar 20
@DianneN Once, I have fallen on my head 
As for dreams, I usually only remember just the terrible nightmares.
As for dreams, I usually only remember just the terrible nightmares.1 person likes this
@DianneN (246993)
• United States
26 Mar 20
@rappeter13 Don’t fall on your head anymore!
Sometimes dreams and nightmares are so odd that I remember them for life.
Sometimes dreams and nightmares are so odd that I remember them for life.1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
25 Mar 20
@DianneN Everyone is feeling a bit of stress at the moment. I just think it's the uncertainty of everything that's the major problem. I also think that the chances of catching this thing is pretty minimal when you look at the stats but because it is getting wall-to-wall media coverage it becomes magnified in our minds.
If we stay at home and minimise contact with others I'm sure we'll all be safe.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246993)
• United States
25 Mar 20
Yikes!
I’ve never scratched myself before, so this was so odd and frightening for me.
I wasn’t even dreaming at the time.
When it woke me up, I continued to scratch a few times before I realized what was happening.
After venting about it here and talking to my family and husband about it, I feel a bit better. Just a bit less stress.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
25 Mar 20
I am not sure if I've ever done this but a person can "harm" themselves while sleeping. Maybe you were having some bad dream, which led you to do this. Try not to worry too much about things you cannot control. It only adds on to your stress.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246993)
• United States
26 Mar 20
@lovebuglena I don’t remember dreaming at all, and once I felt the pain, I kept doing it.
I’m healing now, but have been having restless nights since.
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
25 Mar 20
@DianneN How do you know you weren't dreaming at the time? Were you partially awake?
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74595)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Mar 20
Nope, you're not losing your mind:) I've done this before and so has Jay. In our sleep we can do things, that actually injure our bodies
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74595)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Mar 20
@DianneN I use to do that, also. It's from anxiety and worry. The things that overwhelm our mind during the day, are still unresolved.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156383)
• United States
24 Mar 20
I'm a natural born worrier too; but I'm chilling about this virus. I'm mostly worried that my husband will get it with his asthma and heart condition; but I'm not stressed about it. Stay put in your condo except for some exercise; and you will be fine. Hugs.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246993)
• United States
24 Mar 20
@LindaOHio It was all unintentional, I can assure you.
Your husband truly needs to be more cautious about going out.
Let us all just be safe and get through this together!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156383)
• United States
24 Mar 20
@DianneN Please don't hurt yourself anymore! I'm worried about my husband. We are both in the "elderly" category; but he has asthma and a heart condition. But I'm not panicked...yet... Stay safe and healthy.
1 person likes this
