Disorder

[schleprock62]

All my life I have had what my family calls a tee-da-wee...I use any type of hem and rub in incessantly. Also when I was younger I would burn the thread holding the seams together to get a better tee-da-wee to rub.  I like the feeling of this under my nails and can't quit.  Just recently I have also started picking at my skin until I bleed and form scabs...then I pick them uncontrollably.  I do this without even realizing it until my daughter or husband says "quit picking".  I also have sucked my tongue all my life.  I am 49 years old and don't understand why/what is causing this behavior.  

[Twitchy62107]

I know this is an old thread but I’ve been looking around online to see anyone else did this and until now I haven’t been able to. It’s probably because it’s hard to explain. I have a very particular feeling that I try to get from doing it and it can only be had from certain types of hems. For me, it has to be a hard type of stitch and fabric. It’s mostly corners though. For example, the cloth corners on those reusable napkins they have at some restaurants. Those tend to be favorite. I mostly do between my fibers at the cuticle or sometimes use it to scratch at different parts of my body. I have no idea how to stop. I’ve been doing this since I was a child sometimes unconsciously without even thinking. Is there a name for this behavior? A way to identify it to a therapist. I’m usually embarrassed or ashamed to tell them because if the detail I have to go in for them to understand.

[Joey_B221]

I thought I was the only person in the world that did this weird ****! Lol I'm glad I'm not alone as I too would LOVE to find a way to stop. Only took me until 32 yrs of age to finally google this!

[Mechafaster]

WOW for years and years I have looked around online for somebody who does the same thing I do. I pick at hems all the time. I ruin clothes, pillow cases and sheets, table cloths at restaurants; if there is a hem, I will pick at it. When I was a teenager my dad told me I did it in the crib. It's such an intense soothing feeling when I do it that I can't help myself. I also suck my thumb while I am doing it. I am almost 42 and still do this. I can sort of control it now so that I don't ruin every shirt I wear right away but for the most part of there is a strongly stitched hem, I'm eventually gonna pick it until it's unraveled. As a teenager my sister didn't want me wearing her clothes because I would pick them and ruin them. It's a relief to find out I'm not the only person in the world with this odd habit.

[littlebit667]

We all have some sort of "thing" that we do.  I used to bite my nails, bite the insides of my mouth and pick at my feet til they bled and it was hard to walk.  My kids have some of the same inclinations.  therapy does help,  my daughter uses yoga as her tool and she feels it has lessened her anxiety. I used therapy.  I no longer do any of these things.  I feel that being on the other side of menopause has helped as well.  I had PMS and do not anymore.
I agree with JGF.  Get help.

[JGF25]

These all ways you have come up with to relieve your anxiety/stress.  My sister twirls the pillowcase hem constantly when one is near.  It is done absentmindedly as well.  The picking I think indicates a higher stress level for you.  Since you sound as if you have never been to talk to anyone about these behaviors, it may now be the time since skin picking can have devastating consequences to a person's self esteem since it causes scars.  I think it would help you to learn some congitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies.  Ways to help you stop these behaviors and also ways to alleviate the stress and anxiety you are obviously under.  You can find a psychologist that specializes in teaching CBT from the following website.  

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/?utm_source=www&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=topnav_find_therapist

Good luck and keep us posted with your positive progress.