26 replies to this topic

[Siava]

^ My brother used to pick at his arms (and his face a little later when he started to developed acne). He was about your age. He ended up making himself stop when people made fun of him. His arm picking got bad, to the point a teacher called to talk to my parents because they thought our house might be infested with fleas. He just picked out of habit and I think it brought him some kind of comfort. It took awhile, but he made himself stop.

[justthiskid]

Anyone else find themselves transferring their picking to other areas after they stop attacking their face?

I stopped picking my face nearly 2 years ago. It was a massive improvement in my skin...no more bloody scabs on my face & far less red marks.

However, now when I am nervous or stressed I pick at my scalp, and there is nothing there. No acne, no itching, no dandruff, no hair product, nothing.
I am a very very high strung person and am almost always anxious, which means I have the urge to do it constantly. I start doing it without even thinking.

When I stop picking one area, I seem to move to another area on my body. I stopped my scalp for awhile, and then I started on my arms, then I went back to my scalp. This is preferable to my face, but my head is raw and people stare at me when I absentmindedly start it in public .

I've read stoppickingonme.com which really helped with my face, but I know the root of the problem is anxiety. I don't have money to do therapy...but what can I do about being less high strung?

I go to therapy, and my counselor taught me some coping skills for ADHD that I think really helped me calm down on the whole high-strung-anxiety thing. This might sound really dumb, but I find that coloring in a coloring book really helps me when I feel super stressed and have that nervous-hyperness. Also, I like to carry around a quarter, and when I feel fidgety or whatever, I kind of try to pass it off/balance it between my fingers, like they're steps. It really helps me with all that unwanted energy in my hands (that sounds kind of dirty for some reason...)... Plus, it helps improve your dexterity.

[Ceridwen018]

I'm also a picker, and I have been for many years. I can attest to the "zoned out" feeling you get, and the regret you feel afterwards.

I don't know about all of you, but I am obsessed with getting all of the crap out of my face, you know? I try to convince myself that I would rather have a scab than walk around knowing there is pus in my face...but of course its not true. Unfortunately, I don't realize it's not true until after the damage is done. Beforehand, it's so easy to convince myself that I should go for it. It's a stress reliever.

[lala world]

I have this problem, badly. I no longer pick at my face (well, once in a blue moon perhaps) but I find I'm squeezing every single pore I can find on my shoulders, arms, legs and chest more and more frequently. What's frustrating is that I know my skin in these areas would be for the most part fine if I didn't do this, yet I'm giving myself new red marks and scars all the time because of my shifting picking habits. I'm glad that I've at least managed to transfer the problem away from my face and to more hidden areas, but I clearly still have a way to go until I'm able to break out of my picking habit completely. It's frustrating when summer comes around and I'm again unable to wear anything more revealing than a short-sleeved shirt because of the mess I've made of my body (especially when I never even had a particularly bad acne problem there in the first place...)

I can also relate to the 'trance-like' state mentioned. It's amazing how a couple of seconds trying to unclog one pore can quickly turn into a mega picking session... and that awful feeling afterwards upon seeing how much damage you've done. How many times I've wished that I could turn the clock back a little and have stopped myself.

ik EXACTLY how u feel!! I started picking at my face just to get rid of the nasty big ones, but now i pick at everything! and when i couldnt find anything on my face for a while, i went to my back, my chest, and my arms. i can't wear any of the shirts or bathing suits i like without showing all my scars from obsessive picking

i also know how u feel with the trancelike state. i would just pick at one little pimple and then i realized iv been picking for fifteen minutes. i hate seeing all the red spots and blood that i managed to conjure. it sucks cus if i would have just not started i would still be wearing tank tops and bikinis without feeling majorly self conscious.

[lala world]

Okay well like.. im 11 in 6th grade, and like i pick at my face. and I DO NOT have acne.. I just pick at SMALL bumps and make them into spots.. i dont know why, and its so hard cause when i talk to people they cant look me in the eye, their eyes is always staring at a scar... i dont know why i do this to my face.. i pick at my arms too but like they arent bad just a few spots.. Does anyone have my problem?

i have ur problem exactly ppl never look in my eyes anymore, only at my forehead or whichever area i had decided to pick the night before. i transferred my mutilation to other areas too but more widespread, like on my back, chest and arms. its very sucky

[reindrop]

Anyone else find themselves transferring their picking to other areas after they stop attacking their face?

I stopped picking my face nearly 2 years ago. It was a massive improvement in my skin...no more bloody scabs on my face & far less red marks.

However, now when I am nervous or stressed I pick at my scalp, and there is nothing there. No acne, no itching, no dandruff, no hair product, nothing.
I am a very very high strung person and am almost always anxious, which means I have the urge to do it constantly. I start doing it without even thinking.

When I stop picking one area, I seem to move to another area on my body. I stopped my scalp for awhile, and then I started on my arms, then I went back to my scalp. This is preferable to my face, but my head is raw and people stare at me when I absentmindedly start it in public .

I've read stoppickingonme.com which really helped with my face, but I know the root of the problem is anxiety. I don't have money to do therapy...but what can I do about being less high strung?

I go to therapy, and my counselor taught me some coping skills for ADHD that I think really helped me calm down on the whole high-strung-anxiety thing. This might sound really dumb, but I find that coloring in a coloring book really helps me when I feel super stressed and have that nervous-hyperness. Also, I like to carry around a quarter, and when I feel fidgety or whatever, I kind of try to pass it off/balance it between my fingers, like they're steps. It really helps me with all that unwanted energy in my hands (that sounds kind of dirty for some reason...)... Plus, it helps improve your dexterity.

You are right! When i draw or paint, it helps me out with my anxiety. I don't have a tub to relax in, so i am glad that i can draw! it's almost meditative.

Edited by reindrop, 11 August 2011 - 02:32 AM.

[reindrop]

just reading all of these comments gives me anxiety. I think a relaxing habit to neutralize the bad habit of picking is a good way to go. It isn't the only thing that needs to be done, but it might help. taking baths, smelling flowers, playing with quarters, even just fiddling with fingers to take over the picking. I also pick at my skin very badly. I am just now researching how to stop it, but it has been going on with me for about 6 years. I would always try different acne medications, everthing from the expensive brands, to the natural brands, to just things to balance the hydration levels of my skin. I knew that picking was part of the problem, but now i think it IS the problem. I have bad anxiety, at least bad to me. it's been getting worse. I pick all over my body, just like most of you. Face, scalp, shoulders, chest, back, neck pretty much everywhere. The spots that i pick rotate, going from one area one week, to another the next. I feel like i should meditate, it should relieve stress and anxiety, but i never seem to do it. Or when i try, i fall asleep. Drawing does help, it's like my own meditation, but i seem to be drawing less as well, sleeping longer. anxiety building, picking increasing! i guess i just have to break the cycle. I didn't use to pick so much to where i make myself bleed, but i guess it just got worse. i am going to try some exercises starting tomorrow. maybe this site will help me. from a psychologist. just google "stop picking-advice from a psychologist".

Edited by reindrop, 11 August 2011 - 02:51 AM.