Scratching and Picking

[JMSJackie]

I am 51 and ever since I was a small child I have picked at my skin.  My mother remembers a time we went camping and I got so bitten by mosquitoes and scratched them into so many sores I looked like I had chicken pox.  She was very worried about me.  Off and on all through my life I have had this at varying degrees of severity.  I always picked at my arms and legs, my butt, my belly, my scalp.  Almost never my face.  My arms are a mass of scars as are my hands, my thighs, my legs, my knees.  Right now my buttocks are a mass of scabs and open sores.  I have my arms and legs under control, but the place I am attacking now is my crotch.  I keep trying to smooth it out, get the scabs and the edges smooth.  It hurts like you can't believe, and it has made a sex life impossible.
I am on medication for OCD, on Pristiq for depression which I do need, and under the care of a therapist.  I just found out about you guys and that I am not alone in this picking.  I need some help to stop the picking at my crotch though.  Any suggestions will be helpful.  I only do it when i am in the bathroom going to the toilet.  I wipe the I scratch, and I scratch hard, I try to get the skin off.  Luckily I don't succeed, but it hurts and I suffer and I want it to stop.

[JMSJackie]

that sounds like  a good idea, i will try that

[trdofbeingtrd]

I am sorry to hear you have this.

My only suggestion, is invest in a "worry stone" and use it whenever you get the urge. It has helped many people with problems regarding extra/nervous energy. They don't cost that much and along with your medication/therapy, you have a GREAT chance at controlling this.

Please keep us posted and good luck.