Blood and holidays go together like...well...blood and holidays! A few years ago, on New Year's Eve, we were having dinner guests for a relatively fancy thing, and one of the guests was allergic to cats. While I was in the physical act of putting the cat in Sabine's room, the dog came up to investigate, causing the cat to dig all of his claws into my arm so deeply that I had to PRY him out. I had an unbelievably nasty wound which still, two years later, has left a visible scar.
I applied pressure, though perhaps that only happened because I wasn't home alone.
Poor decision #3 was completely and inexplicably forgetting to apply pressure to the wound. I truly lack any explanation for that -- I've never had trouble remembering to do so before.
That is called acute stress reaction. Also known as shock - not to be confused with the medical condition resulting from the body's systems shutting down. But it's still a VERY intense thing, and involuntary.
I tried to speak and found that my teeth were chattering and I was crying.
That is also a sign of acute stress reaction.
a sense of awe at how stupidly I behave in the face of self-injury
You are being far too hard on yourself here. One of the first things that happens with acute stress reaction is daze and confusion. You needed someone else to take care of you at that moment. Blood actually squirting? That's freaking TERRIFYING.
Thank you! I enjoy turning my personal accidents and embarrassments into amusing stories, and I do tend to poke fun at myself pretty hard. So partly this is good-natured self-mocking. (However, I also know a bunch of people who've injured themselves substantially worse and reacted substantially more practically -- I hope I would do something more sensible if something really extreme happened, but I must admit I'm slightly worried.)
I wondered why you'd called and not left a message!
You are being way too hard on yourself - stop that! Also, as usual, you're being fucking hilarious and although I am truly sorry this happened, I am also giggling for the first time in days.
Hee, I'm glad you're giggling! Me too, at this point. :)
When I got your voicemail I thought it might make you panic if I said "aaaaaugh I'm dying okay talk to you later bye." ;) I figured I'd better just explain later.
I'm so glad Lauren's OK (I agree... shock is a bitch to try to think through), but I wanted to let you know this story had me laughing so hard I was crying! Thanks for sharing, and I'm so glad both L and your brother survived!
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I applied pressure, though perhaps that only happened because I wasn't home alone.
All is well? No infection? Dignity recovered?
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I am indeed well now! No sign of infection. Dignity bruised, but it's recovered from worse. :)
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That is called acute stress reaction. Also known as shock - not to be confused with the medical condition resulting from the body's systems shutting down. But it's still a VERY intense thing, and involuntary.
I tried to speak and found that my teeth were chattering and I was crying.
That is also a sign of acute stress reaction.
a sense of awe at how stupidly I behave in the face of self-injury
You are being far too hard on yourself here. One of the first things that happens with acute stress reaction is daze and confusion. You needed someone else to take care of you at that moment. Blood actually squirting? That's freaking TERRIFYING.
Be kind to yourself. You deserve kindness.
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You are being way too hard on yourself - stop that! Also, as usual, you're being fucking hilarious and although I am truly sorry this happened, I am also giggling for the first time in days.
♥
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When I got your voicemail I thought it might make you panic if I said "aaaaaugh I'm dying okay talk to you later bye." ;) I figured I'd better just explain later.
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