complusive scab picking

[rightsaidcat]

I have been picking scabs on my scalp for at least two years.
When I was younger, I began to pick at my nails. I would pick at the sides of my nails and pull the cuticle until I would bleed. Athough it hurt, I would still do it and I guess this sounds crazy, but i liked the feeling.
I have found myself stopping that habit and starting to pick at scabs that I have made on my scalp.
It has become more of a problem since I recently finished my first year of college and I have been under a lot of stress.
I think I started this habit when I started to notice that my sister had dry scalp. I would worry that I had it too, so I would pick at the things that weren't there and causing myself to have scabs.
I find myself really wanting to stop, but it seems impossible. I find myself in a trance-like state and when I realized what I did it's to late. It has come to the point where I start to bleed. I also have found that I pull my hair out as I try to pull the scabs out.

I would like to know what i can do to stop this diguisting habit. Its extremely gross and embrassing.
help!


This discussion is related to RE:RE: Compulsive scab picking.

[treazzure007]

Sounds like it resembles nail biting which is an easier thing to cure b/c you can apply this type of bitter tasting polish and you will miraculously quit going for your nails.  I sat here for a few moments wondering about your post and couldnt come up with anything about how to kick the scabpicking habit.  I know many children who do it.  My husband and his best friend both still do this as well.  It would be interesting to find out if anyone has any suggestions for this

[Monday39]

I haven't read of any great solutions yet.  I am desperate for one.  I have been picking since I was a child and am now 39 years old.  I probably have a dozen sores in my head right now that I can't quit picking on.  Like others have said, I actually get a lot of enjoyment from it.  I don't like the bleeding part but the scab peeling off gives me a little high.  I know it sounds crazy but I just want to stop.  I bite my nails terribly and pick at anything on my body--loose skin on my feet, toe nails, zits, etc.  I have been taking Zoloft for years--anxiety/depression issues.  Nothing that I've been hospitalized for however I can't go without it.  I thought of hynosis and acupuncture (sp?) and am not sure if this is even a solution.  I am terrified of cancer but it doesn't stop me.  I am deperate for help.

[msn330]

I have the same problem you do and it's been worse over the past 5 years.  I pick at my cuticles and scabs on my head.  It's so disgusting!!  I have the same type of symptoms though.  Trance-Like state.  It even hurts but I can't stop.  My husband even knows about it and tells me to stop everytime he notices me doing it.  Instead of stopping (which I feel I want to do), it just makes me mad and makes me want to pick more.  I have been on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication but nothing helps.  If anyone has had any success with this type of problem PLEASE POST

[margypops]

Gosh sounds like a painful habit, maybe that is the Crux ,its a Habit over the years and if you developed it as a child its hard to break, I suspect you saw someone doing it when you were very young,and you are copying. Now why not(if you really want to stop doing it)each time you are tempted reward yourself with a treat like we do with kids,give yourself feed back and say 'I can do this I can go so long" make a time frame and see if you can get it longer and longer, focus on pretty clothes to wear and you dont want scabs showing.

[Monday39]

It's not as easy as it sounds.  I wish it were.  Last month, I quit biting my nails and cuticles and actually was able to grow them out.  However, the picking in my head got so bad (nails that are thin and sharp can really pick) I had to go back to biting them again just so I can hopefully let the scabs heal in my head.  This sounds so disgusting to admit.  I'm not some weirdo creapy person either.  No one would ever know all this just by looking at me (besides my nails).  I can remember doing all of this when I was a kid.  Does anyone know if this can cause cancer?  I want to go in for a cancer check to my dermatologist but I keep saying I'm going to get them to heal before I do.  Of course that never happens.  I'm too embarrassed to let the doctor see them.  

[beachbum142]

Wow, that sounds so similar I could have written it myself!  Same thing....,cuticles and scabs on my head, both go back about 10 years.  I'm 23 and only my husband and parents know about it.  It's embarrasing, and definitely hard to explain.  Sometimes, I don't even realize i'm doing it! It's like my fingers have a mind of their own. The picking usually happens when I'm watching Tv, reading, studying...things that leave my hands free to wander. My husband catches me all the time and tells me to stop....I appreciate it, but it just makes me want to do it more, almost like a craving.  I've had fake acryllic nails for the past month in an effort to stop picking.....i stopped messing w/ my cuticles and do less damage to my scalp (since the nails are thick and blunt), but still pick.  I'm totally confused! Years back i was also on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds, but i'm not sure if that's related. This is a very frustrating and reoccuring problem!!

[Monday39]

I tried the nails too and kept them up for a couple of years with a break in between.  The were great at first because they were so blunt and I couldn't pick.  However I eventually learned to get past that and pick anyway. I did stop biting the cuticles too until the end and then the nails started to drive me crazy until I decided to take them off.  Did the meds help while you were on them?

[beachbum142]

I didn't have much luck with the meds.  Originally a doctor put me on birth control pills (about age 14) and diagnosed me w/ PMDD...fancy way of saying extremely emotional around my period.  The pills weren't enough, so later we also tried Prozac, Paxil, and Sarafem (separately) and they always seemed to make me feel like a zombie.  I may not have been as angry or depressed, but i wasn't happy and couldn't cry even if i wanted to, i didn't like the feeling of not being in control (even if that control was unstable).  I've also been on Xanax for anxiety, but that was a bad experience, too.  I just abused the prescription...everytime i took a pill, i drank a beer...so i was actually increasing and exaggerating my anxiety.  Personally, i find more solace in talk based therapy...i never made any connections with professional therapists (never met any i liked), but talked with friends going through the same feelings, family too.  Talking through issues helped a lot.....i kinda had to train myself to verbalize emotions.  I still have my freak-outs though...

And, i agree....the nails are not helping as much as they initially did :(

[nora_star7]

I have going through the same issue.  I was too embarrased to go to a hair salon because of the baldness on my head from scab picking.  I have stopped picking my hair but now I pick at scabs all over my body.  I honestly look horrible.  I wiah I can turn back because I have destryoed my beauty.  Scars everywhere.  This has caused me to stick to long sleeves shirt.  I want to be able to look good, but its like I'm controlled by this disgusting habit.

[danarae]

ive had the scalp picking problem for over six years and the only thing that has ever helped me is to keep fake nails on my fingers. the nails are to thick to pick unfortunately it is kinda expensive