Do I need help? What do I have?

Question

Here's my problem. I have a thing for peeling and picking. On school binders I pick at the corners and when it starts to come apart I am compelled to peal it off. The feelings of obsession and relief when I peel at the corners is similar to how I feel when I pick at scabs or bite my nails. Any sort of loose edge that can be taken off is always picked at by me. Finally, I pull at my eyebrows. Growing up I've always had a thing against my bushy eyebrows. However, now I've damaged my eyebrows tremendously. I pull at them with my fingers at various times feeling this almost compulsive desire to get rid of stray hairs that may stand out. I've left my eyebrows barren before and have tried prozac. Though I didn't think it worked much

Answer 1

Trichotillomania

pulling hair.

Trichotillomania is a type of mental illness in which people have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair, whether it's from their scalp, their eyebrows or other areas of their body. Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves them with patchy bald spots on their head, which they may go to great lengths to disguise.

Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-ne-uh) is sometimes called hair-pulling disorder, trich or pulling. Although trichotillomania may seem like an obsession or compulsion, it's actually classified as a type of impulse control disorder — a disorder in which you can't resist a temptation or drive to perform an act that's harmful to you or someone else. Behavior therapy can help you gain awareness about your hair-pulling habits and learn techniques to avoid pulling.

Answer 2

I agree, it sounds like an OCD. I myself find that I pick at things as well and will pick at my right thumb until it bleeds before I notice I'm doing it. It happens most often when I'm stressed. I would talk to your doctor about it and he/she may have ideas on how to refocus that "negative" energy into more positive reactions or possibly offer medications that may help.

*hugs* Good luck.

Answer 3

so many people have this problem..including myself :)  dont worry, this is normal, its a little bit of OCD. but as you get older the obsession will fade.

Answer 4

I do think you need to see someone for some behavior modification.  I don't know you are ill or if you are fixated on this and need to do some behavior work!

Call a therapist and talk to someone to help you.  This is generally something that you cant' do alone.

Answer 5

Stop picking at your elbows!  Why don't you try drawing during class because it will keep your hands busy.  

Answer 6

Sounds like obsessive compulsive disorder.  You need to see a doctor.  It isn't likely to get better on its own.  

Answer 7

It sounds like OCD, (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). You need to see a Dr. who specializes in OCD. There are other drugs that are better suited to OCD than prozac. The fact that you are physically damaging yourself means you need professional help.  

Answer 8

Ok, people throw the disorder of OCD around way too much, You may have a obsessive compulsion but for it to be a disorder it has to be classified within the Psychiatric IV class scale. Picking at your eyebrows or hair and compulsively pulling hair out is known as Trichotillomania.

The best advice for ruminations is to either attach an elastic band to your wrist, when you get a rumination or urge to pick, flick it, the pain response discourages the rumination from arising as much. The other option is if you feel like it is beyong this, go and see a Psychiatrist they will be able to use a scale to classify the urgency of the compulsions. THey can advise better than many people on here including me. You are unlikely to have full blown OCD but may have a low level stage of the compulsive nature.

Hope this helped a little.

Matt

Answer 9

I agree with Hea N- Trichotillomania.  My cousin has this disorder and it took years for them to diagnose, but once they sort of narrowed it down they were able to come up with a really good treatment/ therapy to lessen the severity of her situation.  The disorder does go hand-in-hand with OCD- it's like a manifestation of the disorder, or rather, a very specific obsession and compulsion.  I highly recommend seeing a therapist- don't try to self- diagnose or let people tell you what you might have though, because you're not qualified to deal with this on your own and you wouldn't want to be wrong about the diagnosis.  Good luck!

Answer 10

Sounds like you have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), like when everything has to be perfect, Contact your GP and make an appointment they will tell you what is wrong :)