Whenever I'm in public like shopping for myself or doing anything in general outside I get looks because of my old sh scars, usually whenever people ask I just conjure up a funny story instead of saying what actually happened to make myself not get uncomfortable, I usually say I got them after chasing cats in thorn bushes(but go into big detail about the event)or I say its just the difficulties working with alligators, I know its stupid to some but it makes me feel better about my scars and forget them for a bit, so does anyone else have stories like these(人 •͈ᴗ•͈)
So let me start by saying it is
obvious my scars are from self harm. My entire arm is covered in them and some are fairly large, but I've long since come to terms with them and don't try to hide them (save for wearing a tattoo sleeve for job interviews/the first few weeks. I want to form first impressions based on my work, not on my scars).
When older people ask I will say "My cat scratched me", lol. A classic, though definitely not believable in my case. Otherwise something along the lines of "it got banged up a bit".
When younger people ask, that's when I'll make up a ridiculous story, because I know they already have their answer. A weird coworker once asked and I said "Believe it or not, a bobcat attacked me. I had to fight it off, but it latched on and was kicking and scratching, so my arm is torn up from that fight". His response was "Yeah right, I bet you listen to My Chemical Romance". My coworkers at the time were
PISSED, but random people's words don't bother me. When you've spent 15 years struggling to stay alive they're but a drop in the ocean.
As far as comments, when I first met my (now wife) in person for the first time, we were in a Kmart and some lady had a rabbit she was pushing around in a shopping cart (real strange encounter). She said "Oh! It looks like you have bunnies too!". Another time working fast food it was "Oh mah gawd what happen to your arm!" "Ahh it got banged up a bit" "Oh I thought you got hot oil on it".
I have some newer scars, but not to the extent that I used to SH. It's much more infrequent and I don't usually create as many, so most of my scars are white and hard to notice other than when my arm is bent (the ones close to my elbow and on my shoulder become especially raised). Unless you're looking at my arm, it doesn't immediately pull everyone's eyes to it like it used to when I had 100+ fresh scars at once.
That's been my experience over the past decade. People tend to not say anything, but every now and then someone will ask or show their support. I am 25 years old and started when I was 13; I can count with my fingers how many strangers have brought them up.
im usually very blunt on my past, if they keep asking, depending on the person i putt them a stop on how I dont want o talk about them. But since I always use hoodies, people barely see them.
Mines are too far brutal to use the cat excuse
I'm of the same boat. I am a fairly open book, and will have that conversation if someone I am acquainted with wants to. With strangers I keep it brief and just say something to brush them off. My scars are also far too extensive and large to be cat scratches (My arm is covered wrist to shoulder, front to back), but I'll still say "My cat scratched me", lol. There isn't usually a follow up question to that answer believe it or not.
im glad those stories help you feel better about your scars (*^^*)♡ living with SH scars can be really difficult sometimes. Maybe I'll tell a story similar to the ones you mentioned if anyone ever asks 
