scab picking...

i am 19, and i cant help put pick at my scaps, i have alot of scars from this, but i either dont know im doing it until its too late, or i am bored. i enjoy the pain and getting it off in one piece, and the sickest part is i almost always eat it, i know its gross, but i just do... whats wrong with me? ive been doing this since i was little. what can i do about it?


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

[Whitbywitchuk]

I wouldn't worry too much. It is disturbing but I have been doing it since 9 years old. I have had a few years at a time when it has gone away, the urge, the itch the lot. It comes back unfortunately and is a compulsive thing. I know it is gross, I think so too but I am strangely fascinated. I am lucky, I found a partner with the same problem 3 years ago so I don't feel quite as bad now. I am scarred too.
I have realised over time though that I have more than one autoimmune disorder, one of which causes depression and anxiety and a disruption of the HPA axis. It is possible this could be related. I used to wake up screaming with sleep panic disorder as a child, and I started this picking habit around 8 years old.
What can you do about it? I am at a loss to say. I have been on numerous antid's, diazepam, the lot, nothing worked. The only things that work a little are things like lanacaine which numb the skin and seem to stop the scab forming so easily. However apparently you cannot use that too long as it causes a reaction to the skin eventually.

I hope you and I both get some relief, why are there not any noted studies on this disorder I wonder? It is real and many more people have it than actually let on.

Good luck.

[kaylababy]

Hello My name is kayla im 18

My whole life i havebeen picking sice i was around 4 i believe i picked it up i yesterday decided to come here and ask for help i too eat my scabs and i dont notice when i do it, you have nothing to be ashamed of i thought i always did but now i know i dont have to be, its common with OCD and post tramatic stress also people with ADHD have a high chance of doing this behaviour, it a lot of time is caused by stress i was beaten as a child and i had no way to deal with the stress and anxiety then i started to pick and ever since then I've been doing so  i have been picked on and shunned by what i do but i found people on here that are so kind an excepting someone told me a Worry Stone is a good way to keep your mind off it its a flat stone round and very soft, i found one my mom had and i have stopped picking for exactly 18 hours now, it is hard to go threw i was shaking and i coudl barley notice myself trying to pick but when i did i stopped and anytime my hand twitched to pick something i rubbed my rock this is so much easier then picking if you can do this you can transfer your OCD onto the rock instead of on your skin

http://www.spiritconnectionstore.com/worry-stone.htm

this is the site for the worry stone syou could also find a smooth stone, the one i have i liek the feel off so i like having it in my hands find somethign like that it seems to be working for me i hope what i have said has helped you