Does anyone else pick at themselves? Why do you do it?

Question

It's almost as if I don't know I am doing it. I find myself bleeding and then realize I've picked a big hole in my face, my head, my arms, my back, my ears... wherever I can reach with clothes on.

I am constantly under stress, whether grounded or not. I think everyone is laughing at me, I feel rejected by the public in general. I tell myself over and over that it isn't the case, but just can't help it.

I used to cut when I was teenager, but got over that. Do you think this is some kind of sub-conscience replacement?

Answer 1

yah actually I tihnk it might be :/ I would think it was normal but it whole untill you bleed thing .. I really think theripy might be of some help. When your under a lot of stress its nice having someone to talk to. when im stressed I hate talking to my family or friends becasue it seems liek they don't understand and I gt mad. no help at all. But a theripist beleives you and is easier to talk to I think. hope I helped alittle :].

Answer 2

Jiffy, from the sounds of it, you may have replaced your previous behaviour.

Good on you for acknowledging the problem.  That's a great start.  You do sound like your 'stressed out'/anxious/depressed.  It's not a great state to be in as I'm sure you're aware.

It's not healthy to create sores/wounds and, I would imagine especially for the ones on your face, they are probably making you feel even more ashamed.

For your sake, see a doctor.  They see this sort of thing and, as bad as the symptoms are, they are just that: symptoms.  A doctor will try to get to the root cause and, as a result of treatment/counselling/time, the symptoms will settle down.

Good luck to you. :-)

Answer 3

Yes, it's called dermatillomania or compulsive skin picking.  The causes aren't always known, some doctors think it's an impulse control disorder in the OCD spectrum, others think it's anxiety (and/or) depression related.

I have it, and know that I'm doing it because of stress. For 30 years now I've been doing it, I can't stop it and it's spinning out of control so I've begun getting help for it.  One article I read believed that it has to do with self grooming to try to relax and that it just gets carried away.  There are options out there, therapy and behavior management.  

For me it doesn't matter how much it hurts, how bad it looks, that there is a chance of infection, scarring, that doesn't matter and doesn't stop it.  The more upset I am the worse it gets.  I've been diagnosed as having generalized anxiety and the dermatillomania is being considered a manifestation of that.   Worse is that the more upset I get the more I pick, then I get more upset and pick more, it's a vicious cycle.  

Here are some sites you might want to check out.

Answer 4

hmm.. I pick at myself too. I always have. My fingernails, my hair, my ears, my face, my arms.. have also always wondered why I do that.

But your feeling of rejection and paranoia is a psychological thing. You can only fix that if you talk to your doctor.