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How does one stop the compulsion to picking at their skin? I have scars all over from picking at the tiniest zit or bump on me. It becomes huge and takes forever to go away.
Anything aside from attending meetings and such. I don't think outing such an embarrassing thing would help me much.
Have you considered covering your fingers with something? If you use your index finger and thumb to pick, put band-aids over each of them so you can get a grip on anything.
Trim your nails really short.
Wear gloves (start a new fashion trend!).
Wear something or put something on your body you can fiddle with that won't harm you. Maybe stick a band-aid on your arm, you can pick it on and off. Get a bracelet with a moving part you can busy your fingers with, or a necklace. Get a ring you can "spin" on your finger. Wear things with zippers and play with the zipper tab, or zip up and down. Wear hoodies and fiddle with the strings.
Look for some sort of small item you can keep in your pocket that will keep your fingers busy. Maybe something that needs to be opened and closed. Even a pen with a top you can pop off with one and and put back on with one hand might be enough to distract you.
But most importantly.... when you notice yourself doing it - stop!
Originally Posted by jilleanleab
Have you considered covering your fingers with something? If you use your index finger and thumb to pick, put band-aids over each of them so you can get a grip on anything.
Trim your nails really short.
But most importantly.... when you notice yourself doing it - stop!
I especially like the above ideas. I am assuming that you meant "can't" rather than the word "can."
Chi, the complulsion is what needs to essentially be addressed. Until, you can either get some self-help books on Obsessive Compulisive Disorder or get professional help, a trip to a dermatologist could help a bit. Bumps under the skin can be a sign of yeast. There is a book called "The Yeast Connection". I don't recall the author at present but will find out. We generally think of yeast infection as a female issue to be addressed with a three day cream but this is not what I am referring to. Too much sugar in one's diet can overload your system with yeast and cause tiny bumps that can be seen, sometimes only in bright sunlight but can be felt. Sugar in our diets do not just come from cookie's, soda, and such. Begin reading the sugar grams in all food you prepare or purchase. Reading the book could explain some of the issues going on with your skin.
The Obsessve Compulsive Disorder stems from many causes. Since I have this to a degree, I understand the internal anguish you must feel as well as just the skin issues. My family someitmes, teasingly calls me "Monk" from the TV series......don't know if you have seen it but when I catch myself getting into one of these times, it is generally during times of stress or nervousness. The bumps on your skin, you can control, by attempting to remove them. You might examine your life to see if there are lots of areas in your life over which you feel you have no control. Those may need to be addressed to lessen the need for control with the skin problems. I like smooth skin also and have taken clippers as directed by my dermatologist and clip little tags (using disinfectant on clipers before and after and cleansing the area with alcoho then apply a bit of antibiotic orintment such as Neosporin). But from what I read from you, it is not just little tags but rough skin or tiny bumps that make you bother them to remove them. People chew their nails, scratch their scalp, straighten papers, all kinds of things that make them feel more in control and of course, eating disorders come into play which are also issues of "control". I wish I had a quick fix for you but I believe if you get the book and read it, it would help you with the skin issues but chances are if you don't bother your skin, you will chew your nails, or do other things that give the same satisfaction of controllng one area in your life.
I realize you may read this and totally disagree that it is an issue of control and that is of course, why this site is so great. Many ideas and suggestions can be put out here in hopes of helping but if none of this applies to you, just disregard.
I feel that your question is a valid one and I think you called it right when you said "Compulsion" so hope you can get some help in that area as well as the skin issues. You are certainly not alone in either of these problems. My sister deals with skin issues and messes with the bumps and causes worse problems. She was on antibiotics and the doctor just kept giving her antibiotics to clear up her skin but it was killing out the good bacteria in her system and feeding the yeast in her system, thus making the problem worse. She read "The Yeast Connection" and made lots of changes in her diet and the skin issues are better but she as well as I, have our own little "compulsions" that we address every day as do a lot of people. Some people just aren't willing to share things openly as you have. I would imagine a lot of people will be viewing this thread in hopes of finding answers to some of the same types of issues you mention and will appreciate you posting the thread as well as appreciating people offering suggestions of help.
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